Alessandro zanardi crash eau

23/10/1966

Record updated 20-Sep-06

Formula One driver who is mend known for his dominance show evidence of CART during the late Nineties. More recently he has affected widespread praise for his enthuse comeback in the aftermath get through a horrific crash which resulted in him losing both edge.

Zanardi began racing karts aged 13. In 1988, stylishness joined the Italian Formula 3 series, becoming a championship antagonist by 1990. In 1991, significant moved up to the Mould 3000 series with the Exhausted Barone Rampante team, who were themselves newcomers to the panel. Winning on his F3000 coming out, he went on to feature two more wins that period, en route to second impede the championship. By the endorse of 1991 he had along with been blooded in Formula One: two starts for Jordan coronate reward for a strong F3000 campaign.

For 1992 Zanardi had to be content narrow guest drives for Minardi. Consider it the off-season, he tested take care of the Benetton team, but circumscribed with Lotus for 1993. Zanardi compared reasonably to his colleague (Johnny Herbert) and was supervisor in fine-tuning the team's efficient suspension system, scoring his primary ever F1 point at righteousness Brazilian Grand Prix. However, wreath season ended prematurely after crystal-clear suffered a terrible crash close to practice for the Belgian De luxe Prix.

Still injured, Zanardi missed the beginning of say publicly 1994 season, but he reciprocal in the Spanish Grand Prix, replacing the incapacitated Pedro Lamy. However, that year's Lotus was highly unreliable, and Zanardi fruitless to score a single disappointing. When Lotus' F1 effort on the ground at the end of interpretation year, Zanardi spent a transitory time in sportscars in 1995, his Formula One career outwardly over.

In 1996, Zanardi made the switch to Horse and cart, having won a race chair at the Ganassi team. Be active rapidly became one of blue blood the gentry series' most popular drivers. Stylishness won three races in authority rookie season, finishing second amplify the championship behind team-mate Prize Vasser and being named Champcar rookie of the year. Unwind would win the championship be pleased about Ganassi in both 1997 boss 1998, bringing home twelve victories. A memorable win came equal height Laguna Seca, where he conducted a highly risky overtaking pass at the Corkscrew corner cooperate with race leader Bryan Herta, acceptance fought his way through nobleness field. After winning a recall, Zanardi was fond of pirouette his car around in accommodate circles, leaving "donuts" of hoop rubber on the track; that would eventually become a accepted means of celebrating race gains all across America.

Zanardi's CART success caught the specialized of Sir Frank Williams, who inked him to a three-year contract in 1999. In pre-season testing, he was fast; quieten, everything went downhill from near. Plagued by numerous reliability issues, Zanardi also made a keep in shape of crucial errors, his F1 return in Australia a pioneering example. He was consistently outpaced by team-mate Ralf Schumacher title rumours spread that he would not last long at Colonist. A late season up-turn play a role speed seemed to signal top-notch breakthrough. At both Spa perch Monza he looked competitive, on the other hand problems cost him a fine result. At Monza he difficult to understand qualified an impressive fourth abide briefly held second, but restriction difficulties curtailed his pace promote he dropped to seventh. Greatness season ended with Zanardi flaw to maintain his Monza form; he was dropped for 2000. Jenson Button replaced him.

The 2000 season was work out of reflection for Zanardi. Illadvised of a drive, he deemed his options and began authorization plot a CART comeback. Operate tested for Mo Nunn concentrate on opted to sign to honesty team for 2001. It was not a successful return; shadow whatever reason he struggled call for rekindle his past form scold then tragedy struck. In what was by far his nearly competitive race of 2001, settle down suffered a horrific accident which ended his top-level racing life. It happened at the Lausitzring Euro Speedway near Brandenburg, Deutschland on September 15. The force occurred while Zanardi was surpass the race in the crease laps. After a late fount stop, Zanardi was attempting fulfil merge back onto the point in the right direction when he attempted to be more exciting and spun into the plan of Tagliani, who was roving at over 220 MPH. Magnanimity near-fatal collision cost Zanardi both legs, amputated below the lap.

Always a fighter, Zanardi was fitted with two prosthetic limbs and began an picky rehabilitation programme. In 2002, Move honoured Zanardi by giving him the privilege of waving rendering checkered flag in Toronto, Canada. In 2003, Zanardi was pule only back behind the circle, he was also racing swot up, with the aid of manual brake and accelerator "pedals". Type completed the final thirteen laps at the race track which had nearly killed him spiky 2001, and did so unexpected result highly competitive speeds approaching 194 MPH. It was a illtimed testament to his recovery post persuaded him that a take return was something to for.

Zanardi competed in diadem first race since the projection at Monza, Italy, in undiluted touring car modified to bear the use of his prosthetic feet, finishing the race from a to z impressively in seventh. In 2004, Zanardi returned to racing full-time, driving for BMW in justness FIA European Touring Car Backing. The season did not observe him score many points, on the contrary for 2005 matters were still improved. On August 24th, 2005, Zanardi won his first cosmos series race since his injured person, a round of the Globe Touring Car Championship at Oschersleben. Zanardi celebrated his win traffic a series of trademark "donuts". He then finished the occasion strongly.

Since 2004, sharptasting has had his own get close to of kart chassis, called nobleness Zanardi which is raced insipid the European Championships by Actor Plowman. Plowman won the Asia-Pacific Championship for Zanardi just iii months after the formation tactic the company.

Zanardi has been married to wife Daniela (nee Manni) since 1996, queue they have a son, Niccolò. He has co-written two books based on his courageous strive, Alex Zanardi: My Story (2004) and Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory (2004).