Italy’s Zanardi was a former Grand Prix driver who twice won the CART championship in the United States before having both his legs amputated following an accident on the Lausitzring track in Germany in 2001. Zanardi’s life changed forever on September 15, 2001 when he crashed at 320km/h at Lausitzring while taking part in a CART race. “Please do what I’m doing and pray for this wonderful man.”, Friends and fans are praying for Alex Zanardi’s recovery.Source:Getty Images. Zanardi raced for Jordan, Minardi and Lotus in F1 in the early 1990s before switching to the CART championship in the United States where he was series champion in 1997 and 1998. Zanardi raced in F1 for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams in the 1990s but switched to race in the CART Championship in the United States following a difficult stint … He returned to F1 with Williams in 1999 before heading back to the CART series. Zanardi, 53, suffered major brain trauma and skull injuries in an accident during a handbiking relay event in Tuscany on June 19, crashing into a large oncoming vehicle. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Sign up, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. Dissatisfied with the limitations of legs available commercially, Zanardi designed and built his own custom legs, to allow him to compare the weight and stiffness of various feet to find the ones most suitable for racing. He had been due to compete in the Paralympics in Tokyo this summer before they were cancelled until next year. Ex-F1 driver Alex Zanardi is in intensive car after a horrifying accident where he lost control of his handbike and collided with a truck. His condition is very serious.”, Mario Valentini, coach of the Italian Paracycling national team, told Corriere Della Sera newspaper: “Alex lost control of the handbike, rolled over twice and collided with a trailer truck. Ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who had both legs amputated in a motor racing accident almost 20 years ago before going on to become a Paralympic champion, was in an “extremely serious condition” in hospital after crashing into a truck while competing in a handbike race in Italy. “The patient was then transferred to intensive care. He went on to win four gold medals on his handbike in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, and two silver medals, and 10 world championship titles. His most recent feat was last September when he achieved a new Paralympic triathlon world record time at the Ironman of Cervia, Italy of eight hours, 25 minutes and 30 seconds. In 2002, CART honoured Zanardi by allowing him to wave the checkered flag in Toronto, Canada. Nationwide News Pty Limited Copyright © 2020. But what could have been the end of the sports career for the former Lotus and Williams F1 driver from Bologna proved to be the start of another. It was a record which he achieved a few days after the conquest of two gold and a silver medal at the world championships in London. In 2003, Zanardi was ready to take to the track again, with the aid of hand-operated brake and accelerator controls. “Although the situation was really bad at the time, I set myself the goal of leading a normal life again at some time in the future,” Zanardi said at the time. Zanardi was fitted with two prosthetic limbs and began rehabilitating. “I can’t wait to get back in a car,” he said, To join the conversation, please Log in. Before the 2003 Germa… “Alex has already had his share of bad luck, which he transcended with a mighty determination and spirit to win again,” said former F1 driver Martin Brundle. The 53-year-old Zanardi, who had both his legs amputated after a motor racing accident almost 20 years ago, lost control of his handbike machine while competing in … “Let’s hope he’s fine and this is nowhere near as serious as it sounds from reports.”. Associated Press SIENA, Italy -- Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi underwent a five-hour surgery Monday to reconstruct his face after a crash … I am his friend,” tweeted former F1 world champion Mario Andretti. “Due to the serious head injury, the neurosurgery and maxillofacial intervention began shortly after 7pm and ended shortly before 10pm,” the hospital said in a statement. The collision was terrible.”. Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi remains in a serious but stable condition after an accident during a handbike relay in his native Italy. Ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who had both legs amputated in a motor racing accident almost 20 years ago before going on to become a Paralympic champion, was in an “extremely serious condition” in hospital after crashing into a truck while competing in a handbike race in Italy. In addition to his Paralympic medals, Zanardi also competed in the gruelling Ironman triathlon in Hawaii in October 2014. Zanardi’s passion remained motor racing and he had just announced he would drive a specially-adapted BMW in the final endurance round of this year’s Italian GT Championship at Monza in November. All times AEDT (GMT +11). “Today, I can walk, I swim, I go skiing.”. Join the conversation, you are commenting as, news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site. “Alex is one of life’s truly inspirational people and as we all know, a fighter through and through. Alex Zanardi is in a serious condition.Source:Getty Images. Chess news 2020: Igors Rausis new identity, Latvia tournamen... Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Zanardi was participating in one of the stages of the “Obiettivo tricolore” relay race in Tuscany when he lost control of his bike on a hairpin bend and crossed into the path of an oncoming truck near Montalcino. Stay strong and Forza Alex,” his former Williams team wrote on Twitter. The 53-year-old was flown to hospital in nearby Siena where he underwent emergency surgery for serious head and facial injuries before being transferred to intensive care. I am his fan. Zanardi adapted to his prosthetic legs and was back competing in the final race of the European Touring Car Championship at Monza in 2003 driving for BMW. Don't have an account? A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. “I am so anxious and frightened about Alex Zanardi that I’m holding my breath.

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