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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The racing world awoke Saturday morning to the sad news that beloved racing champion Alex Zanardi had passed away overnight at the age of 59 at his home in Italy.
“It is with deep sorry that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, May 1. … he died peacefully surrounded by the affection of those closest to him,” the Zanardi family said in a statement released internationally.
Zanardi was a Formula One driver and a popular CART champion, winning a pair of titles driving in the United States for the esteemed Chip Ganassi Racing team in 1997-98. After a brief return to F1, Zanardi resumed CART competition in 2001, but was badly injured in a horrific race accident in Germany, ultimately necessitating the amputation of both his legs.
Even that did not dull his competitive spirit, however. Zanardi became a massively successful Paralympic handcyclist champion winning gold medals in two Paralympics. He even returned to auto racing, competing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (2003-09) in a specially-designed cockpit and eventually - triumphantly - returned the American racing scene, competing in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Unfortunately – and unfathomably – in June 2020, Zanardi was involved in a horrible collision while competing in a handbike race in Italy - suffering a massive head injury that required multiple facial surgeries. He was in hospital for 18 months before returning home where he has remained since.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Take a hot lap at 166 mph (and no turn signals)
His resiliency and determination not only shined in his own career but he served as inspiration to countless others. The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said of Zanardi today, he was “an extraordinary man who was able to turn every test in life into a lesson in courage strength and dignity.’’
Reaction across the sporting world was similar. Great European football clubs, AC Milan and AS Roma issued statements of condolences as did Paralympians and so many in the racing world from Formula One greats to IndyCar and sports car stars and champion teams.
Here at the Miami Grand Prix, former CART competitor Bryan Herta – whose son Colton is racing in the Formula 2 Series at the Miami International Autodrome this weekend – competed with Zanardi and expressed his condolences.
“Respect and love Alex,’’ Bryan Herta said on his social media channel. “For millions you were an inspiration and a do-er of the impossible. My last and best memory is of us at Daytona Rolex. I appreciate your kindness for Colton and everything you accomplished. Godspeed!
Longtime racing insider Steve Shunck expressed the feelings of so many, “I’ll always remember the stories, smiles and you sharing your time with others – graciously with a twinkle in your eye.’’
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alex Zanardi, racing champion and Paralympic hero, dies
Continue reading...
“It is with deep sorry that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, May 1. … he died peacefully surrounded by the affection of those closest to him,” the Zanardi family said in a statement released internationally.
Zanardi was a Formula One driver and a popular CART champion, winning a pair of titles driving in the United States for the esteemed Chip Ganassi Racing team in 1997-98. After a brief return to F1, Zanardi resumed CART competition in 2001, but was badly injured in a horrific race accident in Germany, ultimately necessitating the amputation of both his legs.
Even that did not dull his competitive spirit, however. Zanardi became a massively successful Paralympic handcyclist champion winning gold medals in two Paralympics. He even returned to auto racing, competing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (2003-09) in a specially-designed cockpit and eventually - triumphantly - returned the American racing scene, competing in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Unfortunately – and unfathomably – in June 2020, Zanardi was involved in a horrible collision while competing in a handbike race in Italy - suffering a massive head injury that required multiple facial surgeries. He was in hospital for 18 months before returning home where he has remained since.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Take a hot lap at 166 mph (and no turn signals)
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His resiliency and determination not only shined in his own career but he served as inspiration to countless others. The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said of Zanardi today, he was “an extraordinary man who was able to turn every test in life into a lesson in courage strength and dignity.’’
Reaction across the sporting world was similar. Great European football clubs, AC Milan and AS Roma issued statements of condolences as did Paralympians and so many in the racing world from Formula One greats to IndyCar and sports car stars and champion teams.
Here at the Miami Grand Prix, former CART competitor Bryan Herta – whose son Colton is racing in the Formula 2 Series at the Miami International Autodrome this weekend – competed with Zanardi and expressed his condolences.
“Respect and love Alex,’’ Bryan Herta said on his social media channel. “For millions you were an inspiration and a do-er of the impossible. My last and best memory is of us at Daytona Rolex. I appreciate your kindness for Colton and everything you accomplished. Godspeed!
Longtime racing insider Steve Shunck expressed the feelings of so many, “I’ll always remember the stories, smiles and you sharing your time with others – graciously with a twinkle in your eye.’’
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alex Zanardi, racing champion and Paralympic hero, dies
Continue reading...
