CART's Cristiano da Matta By a Nose Over Max Papis

Courtesey CART.Com Story By Robin Miller

FONTANA, Cal.--There were a record 73 lead changes among 19 drivers in Sunday's Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota and the most exciting show in CART's five years at California Speedway.

But after two hours, 59 minutes and all that passing, Cristiano da Matta had eked out a victory over Max Papis by seven-1,000ths of a second and earned the $1 million first prize.

Because of a late start due to morning rains and impending darkness, the race distance was shortened from 250 to 220 laps. However, because of an accident on Lap 216, the finale of the 2001 FedEx Championship wound up finishing under the caution.

That meant the last lap of green-flag racing was Lap 215 and da Matta managed to have his Texaco/Havoline/Kmart Toyota/Lola just inches ahead of Papis' Miller Lite Ford-Cosworth/Lola when the yellow light flashed on.

“I knew I was going to have to battle with Max--he was very fast all day--but I was confident with my car,” said da Matta, who opened the season with a win and followed up his triumph in Australia with his initial superspeedway victory.

“Max won a shortened race in Laguna Seca and I won a shortened race here. It all evens out.”

The 28-year-old Brazilian started second and led 53 laps in joining Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser and Adrian Fernandez as the only active CART drivers to have won on all four disciplines–-short ovals, superspeedways, street circuits and a road course.

“You need to be a little lucky to win one of these and be at the right place at the right time,” continued da Matta. “It's quite easy to drive flat out around here and it doesn't demand a lot of skill-–it's more using your head than your talent.

“Don't get me wrong, it's a good taste to win a million dollars and this team deserves it.”

Papis, who led the most laps (54) and continued his prowess on superspeedways, came agonizingly close to his third win of the year.

“I still don't know how I lost the race and I'm still going to have to watch that video replay,” said the 32-year-old Italian, who jumped to sixth in the final standings. “Nobody was expecting this to be 220 laps or have that yellow come out when it did.

“It's a shame because we tuned the car perfectly and we were right where we wanted to be near the end. I feel I gave it in my heart all race long.”

Papis does not have a ride yet for 2002.

“I don't know if this is goodbye or I'll see you later, but we went out fighting.”

Polesitter Alex Tagliani wound up third in the Player's/Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Reynard.

“Everybody had a chance to win and we ran the last 10 laps like we were qualifying,” said the 29-year-old Canadian. “I knew I didn't want to be leading at the end, just be in the lead draft, and I was in good shape.

“I just didn't count on that last yellow flag.”

Rookie Bruno Junqueira finished fourth in the Target Toyota/Lola, followed by Tony Kanaan in the Hollywood Honda/Reynard and 2001 CART champion Gil de Ferran in the Marlboro Honda/Reynard.

Because of some aerodynamic tweaking to the rear wings, the final oval races at Germany, England and Fontana featured lots of overtaking. There were three separate accidents involving Kenny Brack, Adrian Fernandez and Scott Dixon, but all escaped uninjured and, considering all the three- and four-abreast running, it was a tribute to the drivers.

“I felt like everybody took care of each other today and I was proud of them,” said Papis.

Added da Matta: “I'm not exactly sure why we were able to race so close and have a couple of grooves, but it was like that the first time we hit the track. I don't know if it was improvements on the cars or the track getting better, but it certainly made for some close racing.

“I usually try to run low here, but I could run low or high, anytime.”

Paul Tracy, Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta and Dario Franchitti were all eliminated by mechanical problems.