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GRAND-AM: Da Matta Ready for Return in Laguna
Written by: Grand-Am Communications   http://www.grand-am.com
05/14/2008 - 08:00 AM
Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
The wait is over: almost two years after his life-threatening crash, da Matta will race again this weekend in Laguna. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

It’s been nearly two years since he’s raced competitively, but popular open-wheel champion Cristiano da Matta is set to make his return to racing Saturday in the RumBum.com 250, Round 5 of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, highlighting this weekend’s Monterey Festival of Speed at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (SPEED, 1 p.m. ET Sunday).

Da Matta will join Californian Jimmy Vasser – a fellow Champ Car titlist – in the No. 98 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley in the 112-lap, 250-mile race or two-hour, 45-minute time limit. The pair will be part of a two-car GAINSCO effort, joining Californians Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty. The defending Daytona Prototype champions won seven races in 2007 in the No. 99 GAINSCO Pontiac Riley, but are still seeking their first victory this season.

Da Matta suffered severe injuries when he hit a deer in a Champ Car World Series
testing accident in August 2006 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. After months of rehabilitation, da Matta was cleared to drive earlier this year, and tested with Bob Stallings’ team in Dallas in March. This will be da Matta’s first race since the accident at Road America, and second career in the Rolex Series. Da Matta and Vasser have also won at Laguna in former Champ Car competition.

"I've had enough vacation, man,” da Matta said. “It's very nice to get back to work. I've actually been pumped for a long time, since I got back and first drove this race car.

"I like the track very much. It's actually one of my favorites. If I could choose a track to get back into the car, I'm sure Laguna would be in the top three. It's a special place for me. I know the track quite well. I've tested there; I've raced there in Champ Cars and Indy Lights and everything. I have no worries about the track."
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