Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both legs Saturday when his car was hit by another traveling about 200 mph in a race renamed the “American Memorial 500” following terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC.
The 34-year-old Italian was leading with 12 laps left in CART’s first race in Europe. As he exited pit lane after a stop, Zanardi seemed to accelerate too early, lost control and swerved sideways across a grassy area and into the path of Alex Tagliani’s c
ar.
Zanardi’s car was shattered as Tagliani struck it broadside, the chassis cut in two with debris spraying across the track.
Zanardi’s condition was “stable but critical” after three hours of surgery at a Berlin hospital to amputate both legs above the knee, CART physician Dr. Steve Olvey said.
The driver also broke his pelvis and had a “moderately severe concussion,” Olvey said.
Morris Nunn, Zanardi’s car owner, said Zanardi was “breathing on his own and has no other apparent internal injuries.”
Tagliani, a 28-year-old Canadian airlifted to the same hospital, was awake and alert with no serious injuries, CART said. He was expected to be hospitalized up to 48 hours.
“We are devastated by the extent of Alex’s injuries,” Nunn said. “But we are also so very thankful that he is on his way to surviving a tremendous impact. All of our thoughts and prayers are with Alex and his family.”
The race originally was called the German 500 and was to be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. On Friday, the name was changed to the American Memorial to honor victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks, and ESPN said it would air the race Monday.
CART is one of the few major U.S.-based sports competing this weekend. The NFL and major league baseball called off all games, while NASCAR postponed its Winston Cup New Hampshire 300 and the Indy Racing League rescheduled its Chevy 500 in Texas.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex and his family,” driver Adrian Fernandez said. “It was a terrible accident and all we can do at the moment is pray. It just breaks my heart. We are thankful that Alex Tagliani seems to be OK. In light of all that ha
s happened, our day seems trivial.”
Brack won his fourth race of the season and moved into the series lead.
“It’s been a difficult week all week because of the events that have happened and what happened there at the end,” he said.
Papis said: “I pray for all the people in the United States and I pray for my friend Alessandro that he is going to be OK. It’s very hard to say anything more.”
Zanardi, seeking his first victory this season, is one of CART’s most high-profile and popular drivers.
