Zanardi Loses Both Legs in Horror Crash

Italian driver Alex Zanardi had both legs amputated after a horrific high-speed crash at a CART race in Germany.

Steve Olvey, CART director of medical affairs, described the former champion's condition as "extremely critical" after his accident marred the official European debut of the superfast American motor racing series. Olvey said the 34-year-old former Formula One driver had to have both legs amputated, one below the knee and the other just above.

Zanardi also suffered a fractured pelvis, added the CART doctor, who had said earlier that the driver had lost a lot of blood but could breathe without assistance and react to questions.

Zanardi, who survived a serious Formula One crash in 1993, had just come out of the pits after 142 laps in the 154-lap race at the Lausitzring oval when his Honda/Reynard was struck hard and destroyed by Canadian Alex Tagliani's Ford-Cosworth/Reynard.

The Italian, a former Formula One driver for the Williams, Jordan, Minardi and Lotus teams, spun across the grass and into the path of Tagliani, who was driving at an estimated 320 km/h and could not avoid him. Both cars crashed into a wall and the race was stopped.

Tagliani's condition was reported as less serious. The Canadian, who complained of lower back pain, was awake and alert when he arrived at the track's medical centre, Olvey said. Both drivers were airlifted to the same Berlin hospital for treatment.

Zanardi won CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) titles with the Ganassi team in 1997 and 1998. He went back to Formula One, with Williams, in 1999 before returning to CART this year. Zanardi was out of Formula One for nine months after his 1993 accident in a Lotus during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Italian was leading Saturday's race before his pit stop. The race was won by Swede Kenny Brack, driving a Ford Cosworth/Lola. Brack knocked Brazilian Gil de Ferran off the top of the CART standings with his victory.

"It has been a tough week and now this," said Brack. "I just wish the race had finished under better circumstances. My concern is for both drivers."

Italian Max Papis came second, completing a one-two finish for Team Rahal, with Canadian Patrick Carpentier taking third place in a Ford-Cosworth/Reynard.

"I just want to pray for my friend Alex right now," said Papis.

Festivities Cancelled

Lausitzring and CART officials decided the race at this new circuit some 145 kms south of Berlin should go ahead despite Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States. Security was reinforced and most of the festivities scheduled around the race were called off.

The name of the event was changed from the German 500 to the American Memorial as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in the United States.

The German race was regarded as a test for the promoters of Lausitzring, a state-of-the-art facility costing 310 million marks ($143.7 million) which was inaugurated in August last year and presented as the safest circuit in the world.

Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto was killed during a testing session at the track last April. German investigators said a burst tyre was the cause of his fatal crash. A few days later a steward died after being hit by a car during a training session for a German sports car race.

"This is a normal race accident," Lausitzring manager Hans-Joerg Fischer said of Saturday's crash. "We all deeply regret it but I don't think it is right to say that this circuit is placed under a bad sign."

Saturday's race was the first of two CART events scheduled in Europe. The second one is next Saturday at Rockingham, Britain.