Posted on 05/02/2026 9:57:15 AM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
Champion. Fighter. Friend.
Alex Zanardi was relentless in pursuit, fearless in spirit, and unmatched in heart. His legacy reached far beyond the track as an inspiration to many. To us, he was family.
Rest in peace, Alex.
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Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who later became a Paralympic gold medallist, has died at the age of 59.
The Italian, who raced in Formula One from 1991 to 1994 and again in 1999, was involved in a motor racing accident in September 2001 at the Lausitzring track in Germany which resulted in both his legs being amputated.
After his 2001 injury, Zanardi took up paracycling and won two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympics in London, in the individual H4 time trial and the individual H4 road race, followed by a silver medal in the mixed H1-4 team relay.
I was with Dario when this Group of Young Lions came to Dominate Indycar in the Late 1990’s.
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Search for Alex’s “The Pass” at Laguna Seca. Monterey Is a Fantastic track and The Cork Screw is notorious.
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RIP Alex
F1 Miami Sprint Race had a long moment of silence for Alex Zanardi. He had a great spirit and will to succeed. RIP Alex.
‘Italy loses a great champion’, Giorgia Meloni says
“Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every challenge of life into a lesson in courage, strength, and dignity,” Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on X.
“Alex Zanardi knew how to bounce back every time, facing even the toughest challenges with determination, clarity, and a strength of spirit that was truly exceptional,” she added.
“With his sporting achievements, with his example, and with his humanity, he gave all of us much more than a victory: he gave hope, pride, and the strength to never give up. On behalf of myself and the government, I extend my heartfelt thoughts and the sincerest closeness to his family and to all those who loved him. Thank you for everything, Alex.”
Sad to see- a very brave man Alex Zinardi...i will be attending the 500 this year and i’m sure they will do something to remember Zinardi...
BTW- the video of his accident when he lost both his legs is gruesome...
Zanardi never raced at Indianapolis because of the 1996 split. Yet ironically what Tony George pushed in 1996 is now effectively policy. The current 25/2 rule in the regular season will be squeezed to a Concorde Agreement for all races but the 500. Engines are smaller and less powerful than the 161ci V8 engines that dominated since the 1960’s, and they now use straight ethanol. CART refused to look outside the 161 ci V8 engines that were used since 1969. For 40 different seasons (1969 USAC to the 2008 Long Beach farewell race), the 161ci turbo formula was raced in major competition. The 161ci turbo was used from 1969 to 1996 at Indy.
It was gruesome but was a testimony to Steve Olvey. Sid Watkins may have been referred as the great leader in motorsport safety but Steve Olvey may have upped it.
“(Sid) Watkins acted quickly, telling Ecclestone circuits should not hold F1 races unless they had properly equipped medical centres. He asked that he and an anaesthetist be allowed to follow the first lap of a race in a fast car equipped with a radio and “driven by a competent, recognised race driver who knew the circuit”.
There is F1’s advantage of INDYCAR, they have a medical car that follows the field on the first lap and pulls in. In INDYCAR, they prefer having a team of full recovery trucks with paramedics run only from the start to the truck’s regular position on road and street circuits, and if necessary, “Safety 2” and “Safety 3” take over in a coordinated.
Olvey’s system allowed a car at Eurospeedway to be exiting Turn 1 at full speed to get to the driver with full extrication gear late in the race. The system is used in North American motorsport.
Sorry to hear, I saw Alex win the Long Beach Grand Prix a couple of times in the late 1990’s.
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