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Alex Zanardi is to serve as the Grand Marshall at the German 500 in Germany a week Sunday and there has been a great deal of speculation regarding the role that the former Champ Car champion is to serve at the EuroSpeedway.
Today at the rain soaked Brands Hatch circuit we spotted a Champ Car sporting ‘CART’ on the rear wing (pictured) – a car we did not immediately recognise in the paddock.
The number 66 Champ Car features a hand throttle on the left hand side of the steering wheel and it is believed that the Italian will drive this car next weekend completing the final 13 laps that he was unable to complete back in 2001 following his horrific accident during the inaugural event. This however has not been officially confirmed, but the fact that the car does exist means that there is a good chance that we have not seen the last of Alex Zanardi behind the wheel of a Champ Car.
www.cart-racing.com
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In my opinion, this is a class move by CART. That accident was one of the worst I have ever seen. Zanardi is a great guy and I'm glad to see CART taking care of him.
TLK
Tekneek
05-03-2003, 07:18 AM
Wow. That is a very good story. That accident was unbelievable. I can still remember watching the video of it online (I was at work).
JonInMiddleGA
05-03-2003, 11:25 AM
Whether the speculation is right or not, I think it's great to just see Zanardi at the track in any role.
I'm not a CART fan, but I've developed a soft spot in my heart for him and the whole tragedy.
And if the speculation is right, I think you'll see one of the most moving moments in sports.
With all the bad there is in open-wheel racing, he is everything that is right with it....
Happy29
05-03-2003, 01:17 PM
Wow.... Good thing for Alex Zanardi
Amazing..... now he's gonna do a whole race.....
MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Alessandro Zanardi is making a one-race comeback, two years after losing both legs in a crash in Germany.
Zanardi will drive a specially designed BMW 320i car at the Oct. 19 FIA European Touring Car Championship race in Monza, Italy, the BMW racing team said Wednesday.
The Italian driver lost both legs in a crash during a CART series race on Sept. 15, 2001.
``I escaped death two years ago,'' the former Formula One driver said in the statement released by BMW. ``Although the situation was so difficult then, I made it my goal to lead a normal life again.
``Today, I run, I swim, I ski and on Oct. 19 I will complete my vision and compete in a race again,'' Zanardi said.
The car to be driven by Zanardi will have its accelerator and clutch attached to the steering wheel, BMW said.
There were no plans for Zanardi to race again next year, said BMW spokeswoman Heike Bartsch.
``He wants to see how it feels. If everything goes well, there could be talks in the future about him racing again,'' she said.
Updated on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003 11:53 am EDT
LINK (http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-zanardicomeback&prov=ap&type=lgns)
Zanardi on Letterman.... NOW :)
Zanardi Set for Williams Demo Run
Written by: Cassio Cortes Imola, Italy – 4/25/2005
http://www.speedtv.com./_assets/library/img/medium/63604_aza.jpg (http://www.speedtv.com./_assets/library/img/large/63604_aza.jpg)
Zanardi and the FW27 - a "perfect fit" (LAT Photo)
Former Williams driver Alex Zanardi got back inside the cockpit he occupied during the 1999 Formula 1 season this weekend during the San Marino Grand Prix. Zanardi, who currently drives for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship, has been tipped to make a demo run aboard one of Grove’s cars at next month’s European GP at the Nurburgring.
"I drove a car like this for years, so I'm not afraid nor I will get emotional," the double Champ Car champion (‘97-‘98) told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "At the time it looked like it could be difficult to get in the car because of the width of the opening under the steering wheel, so that some modification might be needed.
"Instead I fit in almost perfectly, my movements are almost regular, so I will just have to get used to it again. I can't wait to drive it, it will be real fun."
Zanardi uses prosthetics to race a specially adapted BMW 320i in the WTCC, since losing both his legs in a 2001 Champ Car accident at the Lausitzring oval in Germany.
JonInMiddleGA
04-29-2005, 03:17 PM
Good story, thanks for posting it TLK.
Mike D
04-29-2005, 10:24 PM
Does Germany still use that oval?
The track is still in use. However... most series use the infield road course, that includes part of the oval.
Emiliano
04-30-2005, 03:56 AM
Alex Zanardi is unbelievable. Do any of you have read his book? I have it, it's a wonderful, and tragic at the same time, story. It really makes you think about life. I'd suggest it to anyone.
I've read his book and thought it was pretty good. The chapter about his recovery after Germany, is truly inspirational.
Mike D
04-30-2005, 06:48 PM
Anybody watch Motegi today? It wasn't too bad. I really liked the commercial breaks where they would split-screen along with the leaderboard so you didn't miss any of the action. That rocked!
Zanardi won the second race of the World Touring Car Championship in Germany today. He led every lap and celebrated by doing his signature donuts. He is a remarkable story...
Tekneek
08-28-2005, 10:20 AM
It is terrific that he is still able to compete in auto racing. I missed his book, so I'm adding that to my wish list.
Alex Zanardi took his first international race victory in seven years after winning a dramatic second World Touring Car Race at Oschersleben.
Zanardi had won an Italian Touring Car Championship round earlier this season, but this is his first victory in a world class event since he won the Champ Car race at Surfer's Paradise in October 1998.
The victory was also his first podium finish since he returned to racing in the series in 2004, after loosing both of his legs in his 2001 Champ Car accident, also in Germany. The Italian races in the series in a special adapted BMW 320i with hand controls.
Zanardi led every lap of the race but had to withstand severe pressure from fellow BMW drivers Jorg Muller and Andy Priaulx to become the eighth different winner in 14 races this season.
Muller challenged pole-sitter Zanardi mid-distance, even pulling up alongside him on the start/finish straight. However, he dropped back again and Zanardi appeared to have the race under control. On the penultimate lap Muller and Priaulx caught back up with Zanardi as the Italian continually locked his tyres on the final laps.
Muller attempted to pass on the penultimate corner when Zanardi made a small mistake, but the German ended up running wide off track as the Italian defended the position. Priaulx slipped through to take second but finished 0.232 seconds behind Zanardi. Muller scrambled across the line in third.
"It is difficult to find the right words," an emotional Zanardi said after the race. "I had such a nice career and whenever a driver comes to an end of their career the young people think that he should retire. But because people felt pity for me, that sentiment was not as strong about me. I had those thoughts too but I'm so glad my day finally came."
Zanardi revealed he believed that it was Jorg Muller's BMW teammate Dirk Muller behind him, who was carrying maximum success ballast this weekend.
"Jorg is a great driver and he is the one who is always driving to make the move," Zanardi added. "I thought it was Dirk behind me, who had more ballast, so I thought I had the advantage. My team were great in building me a car after I ruined the last one in Spa.
"We've finally found a set-up that works for my driving. This is one of the better moments, and I'm very focused. On the slowing down lap I was already thinking about the next race in Turkey and what we found out in the set-up. But I'm old enough to tell my mind to enjoy the experience tonight."
Zanardi also evoked memories of his Champ Car days, by completing donuts on the main straights after the chequered flag.
Priaulx's second place, combined with his win in the first race, moved him to within one point of Championship leader Dirk Muller, who finished sixth.
"My Championship chances are second to Alex's result today," Priaulx said. "He drove so well with no mistakes."
Muller was not upset about the final lap incident and losing second place on the final corner. He said: "I'm happy just to be part of the most historic race in the WTCC, seeing Alex win, and happy with my third position, to be honest."
The new SEAT Leon scored an impressive result on its debut weekend with fourth place for Jordi Gene ahead of Alfa Romeo's Augusto Farfus Jr.
Article on the victory...
Mizzou B-ball fan
11-07-2011, 06:46 PM
Zanardi returns to the winner's circle........
How ex-racing champ Alex Zanardi won the New York City Marathon without legs (http://jalopnik.com/5857025/how-ex+racing-champ-alex-zanardi-won-the-new-york-city-marathon-without-legs)
DanGarion
11-07-2011, 08:21 PM
Zanardi returns to the winner's circle........
How ex-racing champ Alex Zanardi won the New York City Marathon without legs (http://jalopnik.com/5857025/how-ex+racing-champ-alex-zanardi-won-the-new-york-city-marathon-without-legs)
That is awesome, very inspiring.
Ryan S
09-05-2012, 10:33 AM
Another bump
BBC Sport - Alex Zanardi wins Paralympics 2012 handcycling gold (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19493510)
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