Da Matta to race for Coyne in 2006

StickShift · 29 Mar 2006, 17:04 (Ref:1564317)

Alternative title: "Oh, how the mighty have fallen..."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/50517
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/champcar/auto/22798/

Congratulations to DCR for announcing a driver a full week and a half ahead of the first race.

luke · 29 Mar 2006, 17:10 (Ref:1564320)

Yes Yes Yes!!!!! This is awesome. First Jimmy staying now da Matta. I'm glad the final parts of the jigshaw are finally falling into place.

Hazard · 29 Mar 2006, 17:18 (Ref:1564346)

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickShift

Alternative title: "Oh, how the mighty have fallen..."

Exactly what I thought. Well, Servia fell back to a Coyne and fought through - to nick da Matta's seat no less. Also often a good driver in an acknowledged low performing car can wrestle their career back on track with some good performances, by just finishing on the podium...if he did that again in a PKV we'd think less of him.

luke · 29 Mar 2006, 17:23 (Ref:1564351)

Well lets not forget Tagliani suprised us with how well he did last year at Walker / team Australia.

Tenoch · 29 Mar 2006, 18:20 (Ref:1564382)

Hummm. I wonder was Christianos's victory at portland PKV only one to date? If so I dont see Dale Coyne as that far of a step down, and Oriol did a great job with that ride, and I think we all agreed thats when he convinvced us what he was really made of.

Snrub · 29 Mar 2006, 20:28 (Ref:1564458)

A shame for CDM, but hopefully he'll still be able to impress. The problem with Coyne is that it's difficult to be consistant. The odd podium might not be out of the question, but it certainly limits ones ability to be a consistant top 5 or 6 finisher.

racefanatic · 29 Mar 2006, 20:32 (Ref:1564463)

Great news!! I am thrilled for Cristiano - and I really think he'll be able to do a lot with very little. Yeah it's a step down but this is where he wants to be.

JohnSSC · 29 Mar 2006, 22:02 (Ref:1564548)

From F1 to Coyne. No offense, but talk about a career derailed. I, too, hope that he "pulls a Servia" and shows well enough to improve his lot for next season (2007).

I am glad he has a ride but find the notion of his landing with DCR far less than "thrilling."

SALEEN S7R · 29 Mar 2006, 22:33 (Ref:1564581)

Good to have Da Matta back in Champcar, he didnt disgrace himself in F1 and he got a few points finishes but for whatever reason he didnt quite cut the mustard. Will be interesting to see if he can come into champcar this year and run back at the front again.

mac · 29 Mar 2006, 23:27 (Ref:1564621)

I presume that Cristiano is not contributing to the ride .....

If so, Dale Coyne has been able to fund a seat, without relying on a pay driver - this is something that pleases me greatly.

Unless the team's other driver is paying a SERIOUS amount of wompum ......

mountainstar · 30 Mar 2006, 03:46 (Ref:1564768)

Considering the funds they have, DCR has not looked too bad the past few years. This may be the lift they need to push farther up the grid.

marcus · 30 Mar 2006, 09:06 (Ref:1564980)

I Hope it works out well for him.

you have to admire Coyne though , he is doing a great job and I think his team is one of the most liked in pitlane

luke · 30 Mar 2006, 10:06 (Ref:1565027)

Well yes I guess he didn't know how well he had it in Champ Car at Newman/Haas but who wouldn't turn down an F1 drive? A shame it turned the wrong way but at least he showed he could still have it last year although I don't quite know what happened in the second part of the year but maybe he'll be better now that he's fully adjusted back. I just wish though he was in a third car at Newman/Haas.

enemy-ace · 30 Mar 2006, 11:57 (Ref:1565123)

Not the best ride, but it is what you make of it. I am intrigued to see how he will do and I always have been a bit of a Coyne fan.

carsten66 · 30 Mar 2006, 15:06 (Ref:1565237)

He is back... and that's all fine. Da Matta makes the point himself (from Robin Miller on CC):

"I'll admit when Dale first called me I hesitated a little bit but then he called a second time and talked about how we could have a decent season," said da Matta. "I know it's going to be a challenge and I know we probably won't be challenging Newman/Haas, Forsythe and RuSPORT.

"But I think we can race with everyone else."

"Champ Car is the series I've enjoyed the most in my career. The cars are fun to drive and tough to drive and I love the venues. All the other options I had were in cars with roofs and at my age it's too early for that.

"Champ Car is the place I wanted to be."

So let's start racing and see how it worked out...

"But the bottom line is that I'm much better off driving for Dale than a year without driving."

BootsOntheSide · 30 Mar 2006, 16:29 (Ref:1565295)

Servia's performances in 2004 might be the benchmark for Cristiano this year, Oriol managed to revitalise his career when many (including myself) were writing him off. da Matta really underperformed with PKV last season and didn't deserve to retain that drive, and he is taking a risk by continuing in the series, but I hope it goes well for he and Dale.

mountainstar · 30 Mar 2006, 18:12 (Ref:1565355)

7th fastest in testing so far. Next session coming up in 2 hours.

mp356a · 30 Mar 2006, 19:17 (Ref:1565415)

Better Coyne than Rocketsports. I hope he can do as well as Servia.

Ac. · 31 Mar 2006, 02:49 (Ref:1565683)

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsten66

He is back... and that's all fine. Da Matta makes the point himself (from Robin Miller on CC):

"I'll admit when Dale first called me I hesitated a little bit but then he called a second time and talked about how we could have a decent season," said da Matta. "I know it's going to be a challenge and I know we probably won't be challenging Newman/Haas, Forsythe and RuSPORT.

"But I think we can race with everyone else."

"Champ Car is the series I've enjoyed the most in my career. The cars are fun to drive and tough to drive and I love the venues. All the other options I had were in cars with roofs and at my age it's too early for that.

"Champ Car is the place I wanted to be."

So let's start racing and see how it worked out...

"But the bottom line is that I'm much better off driving for Dale than a year without driving."

You highlighted the best quotes carsten66. It's great to see CDM jumping into a car so that he can race, instead of sulking on the sidelines like so many others would have done!

It will be interesting to be in the paddock this year. The Coyne rigs never attracted many fans lingering in hopes of an autograph, this year will be very different. Way to go Dale!

mountainstar · 31 Mar 2006, 03:03 (Ref:1565686)

For years coyne has been looked at as the minardi of champcar, but I'm not so sure anymore.

carsten66 · 31 Mar 2006, 22:50 (Ref:1566548)

It was nice to see that Da Matta was managing to put the DCR-car in the 52. range during the test days...

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