Two-time CART champion and former F1 driver Alex Zanardi is in critical condition following an accident at the inaugural American Memorial CART race in Lausitz, Germany.
Zanardi, 34, of Bologna, Italy, was airlifted to Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn hospital following a two-car accident with Alex Tagliani which occurred as Zanardi exited the pit lane following his final fuel stop on the 142nd of 154 laps. He underwent a three-hour procedure that resulted in the traumatic amputation of both legs above the knee.
In 1996 Alex Zanardi, following in the footsteps of Nigel Mansell another ex-Lotus driver, left Formula 1 to race Indy Cars and became the Rookie of the Year. Of course Mansell, who left as the reigning F1 World Champion, took double Indy Car honours by winning the World Championship as well as the Rookie award!
Not to be outdone Zanardi, driving for the Chip Ganassi Target Indy Car team, improved on his 1996 Rookie of the Year Award and overall 3rd place finish in the drivers’ championship by clinching the 1997 PPG Cart Drivers Championship with a 3rd place finish at the Toyota Monterey GP with one race still to be run.
In 1998 Alex dominated the renamed CART FedEx Championship Series and clinched his second successive championship title at Vancouver with four races remaining. Fans all over America were treated to a display of his signature doughnuts as he spun his car in tyre destroying clouds of smoke after almost every race victory.
His single minded, occasionally over aggressive, driving style won him many races along with a few fines and periods of probation. After the race his combination of good humoured exuberance and humility in victory was a welcome change and it was hoped that it would bring some relief to a Formula 1 paddock that was woefully short on personality.
Zanardi’s second spell in F1 was in 1999 with the Williams team. Unfortunately a lot had changed since Alex was last in F1 and he was unable to get comfortable with the current cars that now had narrower chassis and grooved tyres. Zanardi sat out the 2000 season and was then tempted back to CART this year by Mo Nunn, his former race engineer at Team Ganassi, who now has his own team.
Despite several fine performances this year Alex had not shown the winning form that he used to possess and this, along with quite a few mechanical DNF’s, kept him from achieving the results that his many fans hoped he would. Ironically this could have been Alex’s best result of the year as he was leading the race before his pit stop and he had been second fastest in yesterday’s qualifying.
Around the world Alex was one of the most recognizable and popular drivers and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this tragic time.