Formula One news

Champ cars tougher than F1 - da Matta

According to ex-F1 driver Cristiano da Matta, it's a tougher ride at the wheel of a Champ Car. The Brazilian, fired by Toyota mid last year, won the 2002 edition of the American category, and will return in 2005.

Asked which is the toughest open-wheeler, he replied: ''The F1 (car) is easier physically. ''F1 is hard on the neck, with the higher g-force.

''But a Champ Car, because of the braking, no power steering, the manual gearshift, the slick tyre -- you're using more muscles. So your heart rate is higher.''

Da Matta also told a media conference that he never thought 'the grass was going to be greener' on the F1 side. He added: ''I just didn't know what Champ Car's future looked like. And every driver has a dream to try a F1 car.''

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