Grapevine: Zanardi 7th in Comeback Race
Italian Alex Zanardi, making his return to motor racing after losing both his legs in an horrific crash, finished seventh today in the final race of the FIA European Touring Car championship at Monza.
Italian Alex Zanardi, making his return to motor racing after losing both his legs in an horrific crash, finished seventh today in the final race of the FIA European Touring Car championship at Monza.
Zanardi was back on a race track just over two years after his high-speed crash in a CART race at the Lausitzring in September 2001, which resulted in him losing both his legs and two litres of blood. For days the 36-year-old former Formula One driver was fighting for his life.
On Sunday Zanardi, driving a specially adjusted BMW 320i, slid out in the first race of the day and started eighth on the grid, eventually finishing seventh, 15 seconds behind winner Jorg Muller also driving a BMW.
"I did well and it is good to see what I can achieve at this stage after all this time. It would have been even better to see where I could have arrived with a bit of training," said Zanardi.
"But today was a wonderful day for me," he said.
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