CART: Da Matta leads Toyota drivers at Michigan

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 23, 2001

- Cristiano da Matta came from a lap down to finish fourth today - his best finish since a second-place showing at Long Beach in the season's second race. The result is his best-ever on a superspeedway - and his seventh top-10 finish in 10 races this year. Da Matta dropped more than a lap down after his air jack broke, causing him to lose more than 10 seconds per pit stop. With the fourth-place finish, Cristiano da Matta moves back into fifth-place overall with 67 points - just 17 behind the leader.

- Memo Gidley led a career-high 68 laps today. The Target driver charged from 16th into the lead by Lap 36 and then never dropped below third until a pit-speed violation eventually dropped him a lap down. After another charge moved him back onto the tail end of the lead lap, he eventually suffered mechanical woes that left him running 14th at the end.

- Bruno Junqeira's ninth-place finish snaps a streak of four consecutive DNF's for the Brazilian rookie. With the finish, he earns his fourth top-10 placement of the season.

- Scott Dixon's 10th-place finish comes on his 21st birthday and is his sixth top-10 finish in his first 10 CART races. With the top-10, Dixon maintains his CART Rookie of the Year points lead, 57-35 over Bruno Junqueira.

- Roberto Moreno's 12th-place finish now gives him points-paying results in eight of 10 races this year.

- Four Toyota-powered drivers currently rank in the top-10 overall in the CART points standings. Cristiano da Matta continues as the highest ranking Toyota driver in fifth with 67 points. Scott Dixon remains in seventh with 57 points - seven in front of ninth-place Jimmy Vasser, who is one ahead of Christian Fittipaldi.

Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports: "Both Cristiano and Memo drove brilliantly today - each coming back from more than a lap down after pit problems. We had our chances, but it just wasn't meant to be our day. Overall, it was a typical, exciting Michigan 500-mile race. As unbelievable as it may sound, today's race may have provided as many thrills as a year ago. We were proud to be the presenting sponsor of this race today."

NEXT RACE: Target Grand Prix Presented by Energizer, July 29, ABC, 4:00 p.m.

Text provided by John Prodica

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.