Zanardi Happy to be Alive after Crash

Italian driver Alex Zanardi said he was happy to be alive after the high speed crash in a CART race in Germany in which he lost both legs.

"The most important thing is that on October 23 I will be 35," Zanardi told Wednesday's German Bild daily. Zanardi, who had both legs amputated after his accident during the German 500 race at the Lausitzring track on September 15, paid tribute to the team of doctors and nurses at the Berlin hospital where he is still being treated.

"Thanks to those wonderful people I have won the most important race in my life and I will turn 35 in a few days," he said. The former Formula One driver said he could not remember what happened in the accident.

"All I know is that eventually I woke up and saw my wife Daniela," he said. "It was fate. The cars today are safer than they have ever been. But there is a limit and when you get over it, the risks get higher."

Zanardi, who was kept in an artificial coma and remained in critical condition for days after the accident, said he was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.