But Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell admitted such cures, like the miracle attributed to Mary MacKillop, were obviously rare.

"Yes obviously (cancer can be cured by prayer)," Cardinal Pell told ABC Television today.

"And there are quite a number of examples in the books."

Cardinal Pell said that wouldn't give sick people a false sense of security because they realised cure by prayer was a "very long shot".

The Vatican has recognised Mother Mary's role in the healing a woman with inoperable cancer during the mid-1990s after she prayed to Mother Mary.

It was the second miracle attributed to Mary MacKillop, set to become the nation's first saint 100 years after her death.

THE driver stuck on cruise control at 100km/h on the Eastern Freeway and EastLink has lashed out at those casting doubt on his story.

"You weren't in the car," Chase Weir said. "If anyone can fake a 000 call and all that screaming, show me how."

Readers swamped the Herald Sun website and talkback radio to also ask why the Ford Explorer driver didn't turn off his engine or shift the gear selector into neutral.

Click here to listen to the dramatic 000 call extract

Mr Weir told police the ignition key would not move and that he could not put the car into neutral.

On trying to brake, he could not slow below 80km/h.

The 22-year-old Queenslander's ordeal began at 12.40pm on Tuesday when he was unable to slow for his Eastern Freeway exit.

It ended just over 30 minutes later on the Moorooduc Highway at Frankston, when he finally managed to stop the vehicle using the handbrake and the brake pedal - on the wrong side of the road.

Police considered radical measures to stop Mr Weir.

But it was Sgt Marnie Goldsmith who in effect rescued him, talking him through his panic after he dialled 000.

Mr Weir thanked her in person.

Sgt Goldsmith said: "He shook my hand and I said 'I can give you a hug'."

Mr Weir said it was only her calm response that allowed him to keep his head.

"She was saying, 'the car won't stop but you're still OK'. I was panicky, but she kept me calm."

She explained: "I just said 'I'll tell you when it's time to panic and we're not there yet'."

Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority operator Jay Kemp, who co-ordinated the response, said: "There is no standard procedure to stop a car stuck on cruise control. It was extraordinary."

The first police unit to reach Mr Weir thought it would all end in tragedy.

Sen-Constable Steve Warr and Constable Stephen Glenk from Doncaster kept other vehicles away from him.

"We knew the traffic would bank up and we wanted to end it prior to Frankston," said Sen-Constable Warr.

"We discussed about 50 different options, from using our van or a truck to stop him, using the guard rail, or running him into a paddock.

"By the time the last 3km came up, it was too late. I thought there were going to be fatals. I said over the air - 'It's going to be bad'."

The Explorer will now be examined by police and Ford. Mr Weir claims six Australians have contacted him on Facebook to claim similar issues with their cars.

National Motoring Editor Paul Gover writes: If you are faced with a jammed accelerator, or a stuck cruise control, do not panic. Firstly, push down very hard on the brake. If it doesn't release the accelerator, don't panic.

If it's a manual, push down on the clutch, which should disengage a cruise control, or knock the lever into neutral. Do the same for an automatic, but go gently on the shifter.

Selecting neutral will disconnect the engine from the gearbox and allow you to brake to a stop.

If you cannot get into neutral, try turning the engine off (do not lock the steering). You should be able to steer and brake to a stop.

In the absolute worst case, do as Mr Weir did to stop.