Zanardi Still Fighting for his Life

Italian Alex Zanardi was still fighting for his life in the intensive care unit of a Berlin hospital on Monday, two days after he lost both legs in a horrific high-speed crash at a CART race in Germany.

"His condition has not really changed and is still life-threatening," said doctor Walter Schaffartzik from the hospital where the former Formula One driver was being treated after his accident marred the official European debut of the U.S. racing series.

"There is a chance that he will live but complications can arise at any time," Schaffartzik told Reuters. "His condition can be described as critical but stable."

The 34-year-old Italian had both legs amputated in an operation which lasted over three hours on Saturday night, and will undergo surgery again today. Zanardi also suffered several pelvis fractures which did not require surgery but what worried the doctors the most was that he had lost a lot of blood.

"Medically speaking he is not in a coma but he receives medicine to fight pain which keeps him asleep," Schaffartzik said.

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 ended up crashing into a wall and the race was stopped.

Tagliani's condition was far less serious. The Canadian sustained only light injuries and was discharged from hospital on Sunday afternoon after being kept in overnight for observation.