Grapevine: Zanardi Back on Feet, Racing in New Direction

Alex Zanardi has no interest in racing cars any more.

Not because he can't, he says, after having his legs brutally ripped from his body in a horrific high-speed crash at the inaugural CART race in Germany last September - but because he simply isn't interested.

Less than a year after receiving his last rights, the 36-year-old Italian was back on his prosthetic feet confidently strolling pitlane at the Toronto Indy on Friday, making his first appearance at a race track since his near fatal accident.

Clearly enjoying his return to the series he once dominated, winning drivers' titles in 1997 and 1998 before departing for Formula One and a ride with Williams, Zanardi spoke enthusiastically about the countless possibilities open to him - none of which appear to involve motor sports.

For the moment Zanardi says he is relishing his time at home in Monte Carlo with his wife Daniela and son Nicola or sailing his boat around Corsica. He admits to watching every race on television but that the turbo-charged world in which he once ruled holds no other allure.

"Quite frankly, I don't see anything particular in front of me but I don't see any particular barrier that would stop me to do things either," said a smiling Zanardi.

"I believe that if I had the motivation I could come back and race again, I don't see missing my legs as an obstacle so big that it would be impossible to overcome. I don't know what I will do two, three years from now. One thing I would really like to do is ski again.

"But right now my main priority is to enjoy my family and be with them."

Indomitable Spirit

There is little reason to doubt the diminutive Italian with the indomitable spirit could not accomplish anything he set his mind to. Shortly after checking himself out of the hospital, Zanardi was back behind the steering wheel of a car fitted with hand controls.

More remarkably he stunned his friends and doctors by changing a tire on his SUV after suffering a blowout on the way to an interview.

"I still have hands," said Zanardi, who had both legs amputated above the knee. "When I sit down I'm a totally normal person, at least as normal as I was. There are two sides to look at the story. The bottle could be half full or half empty.

"It is some pride for me when I go to centre where I do my rehabilitation to see that there are other people in my condition who in 20 years have not accomplished what I have in six months. There are a lot of people who use the legs just to improve their luck and spend all their time in a wheelchair but that's not me."

In Toronto to accept the Greg Moore Achievement award for significant contributions to racing, Zanardi basked in a standing ovation from the 800 guests at the black tie gala then climbed into a pace car and drove the race course he won on in 1998.

Fit and tanned, his sense of humour and zest for life intact, Zanardi sat at a table looking as if nothing more tragic than a sleepless night had befallen him.

Pain

Even Zanardi's disarming smile could not hide the brutality of crash, the pain revealed in the 36-year-old's frank answers.

"After a middle point I was very depressed, I mean the pain was just terrible, every step was a nightmare," recalled Zanardi. "It was hard but it is much better now and every day I make a small improvement.

"I thought it would have been easy, just stepping up and go. But in reality I'm finding everyday it is a little hard.

"Sometimes it takes time to do this and do that. But my never-say-never attitude has helped me a lot, that's why after a short period after the accident I'm capable of doing almost everything on my own. My optimism is what is driving me the most.

"People ask about my son Nicola. He is a gift from God, he is the thing I love the most in my life but that was not the motivation. For me just the fact to be alive is sufficient motivation to want to improve my life quality. My son, my wife my family are big positives, I am a happy guy even without my legs."