Justin Wilson of Loveland-based RuSport had a near disastrous race at the Grand Prix of Denver last year. The Longmont resident was knocked out immediately – and almost literally – when the car of Cristiano da Matta climbed over the back of his car on the first turn of the 97-lap event.
While airborne, one of da Matta’s rear tires brushed the top of Wilson’s helmet, capping a scary start to Denver’s fourth Champ Car race at the 1.65-mile street course around the Pepsi Center.
Wilson, who walked away uninjured, finished 17th. Da Matta, who drove for PKV Racing at the time, was given a last-place result in the 18-car field.
“We want to make it past the first corner this time,” Wilson said Thursday. “We think we’ve learned a little bit more than last year when we qualified fifth. We’re hoping to be on the front row and challenge Forsythe and Newman/Haas, the cars that have been dominant the past few years here.”
Paul Tracy and former Ru Sport teammate A.J. Allmendinger will be race for Forsythe while Sebastien Bourdais and Bruno Junqueira will man cars for Newman/ Haas.
Wilson’s scare last year was a reminder of the dangers of open-cockpit race cars. Da Matta’s freak accident last week at Road America, where he hit a wandering deer that plowed into the cockpit, is the most recent example.
Da Matta, who in June replaced Allmendinger at Ru- Sport, remains in intensive care at a Wisconsin hospital with serious head injuries. According to the team’s website, most of da Matta’s sedation has been removed and he is moving all of his extremities and responding to stimulation.
Wilson and RuSport will not comment further on da Matta’s accident or his condition until this morning. A news conference to discuss those issues has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today at the Pepsi Center before the first practice session.
World’s best driver?
According to the speed driver rankings, three of the world’s top 11 drivers will compete at the Grand Prix, including the best in the business.
Bourdais sits atop this week’s standings, which uses a complex formula developed by the motorsports network and Stats Inc. Wilson is sixth and Allmendinger 11th.
Go, go
Bourdais, Champ Car’s two- time defending champion and current points leader, was quickest in Thursday’s go-kart challenge inside the Grand Prix grounds.
The Frenchman edged Mexico’s Mario Dominguez, who finished second in the Grand Prix a year ago, Nelson Philippe of France and American Atlantic driver Alan Sciuto.
