Former CART champ and F1 driver Alex Zanardi dies at 59
Zanardi lost both of his legs in a 2001 crash before beginning a second career as a competitive handcyclist.
Former open-wheel champion driver Alex Zanardi has died. He was 59. Zanardi’s family announced his death in a statement on Saturday and said that he “fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones.
” Ever the perseverant racer, Zanardi began a second racing career as a handcyclist after his competitive auto racing career was over. A two-time CART champion in 1997 and 1998 when the United States’ open-wheel racing series were bitterly divided, Zanardi had one of the best seasons in American open-wheel history in 1998. After winning his first CART title with five wins in 1997, Zanardi won seven races and scored 15 podiums in 19 races for Chip Ganassi Racing in 1998.
He had an average finish of 3. 8 — nearly five spots better than his teammate Jimmy Vasser in second. Both of Zanardi’s racing careers were significantly impacted by severe crashes, however.
In 2001, Zanardi lost both of his legs in one of the worst racing crashes you’ll ever see during the CART Series race at Lausitz. Zanardi’s car spun onto the track after he exited the pits and Alex Tagliani was unable to avoid hitting Zanardi’s car at 200 MPH. The T-bone impact ripped the front off Zanardi’s car and medics had to work furiously to save Zanardi’s life.