Zanardi to make racing return?

The 33-year-old made a much anticipated return to F1 with the Williams team last year, after winning back-to-back Champ Car titles in 1997 and '98 under Mo Nunn at Chip Ganassi. The Italian was continuously out-qualified and out-raced by team-mate Ralf Schumacher at Williams and was replaced for 2000 by Jenson Button. Many viewed this to signify the end of his racing career.

Nunn however, believes this to be wide of the mark and is sure Zanardi will make a return to racing next year after having asked the Italian to substitute for the injured Tony Kanaan in his Mo Nunn Racing Team.

"Alex told me he'd probably have done it," said Nunn, "if there had been time to test, but he doesn't want to come back until he's in racing shape. I get the impression he's itching to come back. I think he'll do it but the circumstances have to be right."

Following Zanardi's decision not to race, out-of-work veteran Bryan Herta stood in for Kanaan at Portland and will continue to play substitute until the Brazilian is fit.