Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
April 24, 2001

da Matta won the 2001 FedEx Championship Series season opener (Allsport)

CART driver Cristiano da Matta joined us to chat about the 2001 racing season.

da Matta, who drives for Newman/Haas Racing, recently won the 2001 FedEx Championship Series season opener where he scored his first road course victory and finished second in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. After two events, he is the leader in the 2001 FedEx Championship Series point standings, leading defending series champion Gil de Ferran by seven points.

Cristiano da Matta: Hello everybody! Welcome to the chat!

Question: Which drivers do you feel really good about beating to the finish line because you feel they're at the top of your sport?

Cristiano da Matta: In CART it is tough to say just a few names. We have so many of them! Right now it would be the series champion, he is the guy to beat right now. de Ferran.

Question: What are the real dangers of diving those cars?

Cristiano da Matta: There are many dangers driving those cars! Every kind of car you can crash, even a road car, is dangerous. The series/tracks/chassis builders -- they all look for safety and better ways for the car to absorb the impact. It is not as dangerous as someone who drives a road car thinks, but it is dangerous.

Question: What has been the scariest moment for you during a race?

Cristiano da Matta: I think when I crashed in Detroit in 1999. I thought I was going to be hurt really bad. But nothing happened, fortunately.

Question: Congratulations on your success so far this year. I began cheering for you after seeing your great reaction to winning the race in Chicago last year. What racing skill are you working on the most to improve?

Cristiano da Matta: The biggest thing I am working on right now is speed. Speed is never enough. You always have to work on that.

Question: Who was your biggest inspiration?

Cristiano da Matta: My dad drove race cars when I was young and I was always looking up to him. I grew up watching him and he was very successful in Brazil.

Question: Do you prefer ovals or street tracks? And what is your favorite course?

Cristiano da Matta: I personally prefer street tracks. There are more things a driver can do than on an oval. On an oval a bad driver can win with a good car. On a street course a bad driver can have a good car and he may not win. My favorite road course is Mid-Ohio and for street it is Surfers Paradise and for ovals I like Nazareth.

Question: Since this is the first race on the Texas Motor Speedway for you all, what have you done to prepare for the track?

Cristiano da Matta: It is an oval like any other one. So we approach it like we would any other track we have never been to. I have been there on a road car, never a race car. The biggest thing is preparing the car since we have never been there. For some things we have to guess -- speculate -- since we have simulations. We just try to get as close as we can to a good setup.

Question: Who is your biggest rival on the CART circuit?

Cristiano da Matta: There isn't one right now. There are about 15 guys who can win the championship! These guys all make me worry about the same. There isn't one that stands out.

Question: Congrats on being the CART points leader! Do you have any interest in trying NASCAR?

Cristiano da Matta: No. They are too slow!

Question: Have you seen the movie Driven yet? If so, what do you think about it from a racers point of view? Are you in the movie?

Cristiano da Matta: Yes I have seen it! My car is in it but I am not. For a real race fan that is involved in the technical side, they will be disappointed because there are not many technical things. But for a racing fans it will be good. And that is what most people are -- not interested in the technical things.

Question: How do you respond when people say that race car drivers are not athletes?

Cristiano da Matta: I prefer not to talk to people who think like that! That means they do not understand anything about racing.

Question: Why do you think you had so much success in Brazil and now in the US but not so much in Europe?

Cristiano da Matta: Because when I was racing in Europe I didn't have the opportunity to join the right teams at that time. Both years I was there I did not have good teams behind me. I am sure that is why.

Question: Your bio says you are 1.65m tall. That's about 5' 5". Does being short have its disadvantages as a driver?

Cristiano da Matta: I don't think so. It definitely doesn't hurt. It means you have more room than the other drivers in the car. It is easier for me to get comfortable than the taller drivers. I hear them complaining but for me it is fine. There is always space. The bad part is that in proportion, everything is heavier because I am a smaller guy. But that means I have to work out harder!

Question: Do you live in Brazil or in the States now? What's the biggest difference between the two?

Cristiano da Matta: I live in the United States now. In Miami. The biggest difference -- everything is different! That is a tough question. I think the quality of life everyone has here compared to there is the biggest difference. In Brazil a few have good quality and a lot do not have anything. Here, most people have a good life.

Question: What's the oddest thing you've discovered about the States?

Cristiano da Matta: Another difficult question! The most strange thing is how people here do not live where they were born! Here you move to all parts of the country. In Brazil 80-85% of people still live in their hometown. That is the most strange.

Question: What is your opinion of the CART/IRL feud? Will it be over soon?

Cristiano da Matta: I think from a driver's stand point, well I try not to get too involved in the political side. Too much goes on that you lose focus. In my opinion if we had only 1 series it would be a lot bigger series! But from a driver's standpoint having 2 top series like we do gives more drivers the opportunity to show their talents.

Question: What is it like racing for Newman-Haas?

Cristiano da Matta: I have had a great experience with them so far! Not just the results but since we started. They were going through big changes last year to this year. They have Toyota now which is new for them but not me. And new drivers. Since the beginning I saw everyone excited about the changes and real positive. Everyone there are real racers and put their heart in their jobs. I am that way too and it is good to find people to think and act like you to work with.

Question: What do you like to do when you're not racing or at the track?

Cristiano da Matta: My main hobbies are riding my mountain and road bikes and playing my guitars (acoustic and electric). I like to stay home when I am not at the track too. I think everything that normal people who spend a lot of time away from home like to do. Which means not going out much!

Question: What other young up and coming racers should we watch for?

Cristiano da Matta: Another tough one. There are lots of them. Watch for Daniel Weldon, he's English. I think he finished 2nd last year. In the Toyota Atlantic Series, Hoover Orsi. He's from Brazil. He finished 2nd in the first race in Long Beach and I think he will be a championship contender too. I could say 10 more but I'm out of time!

Cristiano da Matta: I would like to thank all the fans who joined us. And thank them for the support. Watch me in Dallas this weekend where we will try to increase the points lead. Thanks and goodnight!