ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta's
condition has stabilized but he remains in intensive care with a
head injury after a collision with a deer at Road America.
Multiple CT scans reveal no further bleeding in his head but
there is swelling of the brain as doctors expected, said Dr. Chris
Pinderski, Champ Car World Series director of medical affairs.
"His condition has stabilized but he will remain under heavy
sedation as his recovery process continues," Pinderski said
Saturday in a statement.
The deer wandered onto the track during a test session at Road
America on Thursday.
Da Matta was unconscious when he was airlifted to Theda Clark
Memorial Hospital in Neenah after the crash, Champ Car series
spokesman Steve Shunck said.
Da Matta had to have surgery to remove a ruptured blood vessel
in his head after the accident.
The collision was "a completely freaky thing," Road America
media director Julie Sebranek said Friday.
An 8-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire circles the
628-acre Road America property, which is surrounded by wooded
terrain and farm fields.
When asked how the deer got onto the property, Sebranek said,
"They have been known to jump the 8-foot fences."
The 32-year-old Da Matta, a native of Brazil who lives in Miami,
has 12 career Champ Car victories, including four straight wins in
his championship season of 2002 to tie a series record.
After competing in Formula One during 2003 and 2004, he returned
to Champ Car last year and tied for 11th in the standings. He is
sixth in the standings this season after finishing second in last
Sunday's race in San Jose, Calif.
RuSPORT said Saturday da Matta's teammate, Justin Wilson, will
compete in the Grand Prix of Denver Aug. 13 as scheduled.