Zanardi scores points

The Italian, who was racing for the first time since losing his legs in a CART crash in Germany two years ago, finished seventh in the second race of the day at Monza. He was taken out in the first race, but his BMW Team Italy-Spain squad was able to fix the damage for race two.

"My second race was better than the first one," he said. "I am not super happy because that would have been if I won the race. I am still encouraged to see where I am after these very few days of practice and very little time in the car this weekend, because we had trouble, not only in race one but also in the first practice, which didn't help at all."

Zanardi survived to finish the second race despite a clash with fellow BMW driver Andy Priaulx, who had earlier been delayed by spinning at the first corner.

"Andy Priaulx gave me a hard time in race two, but he apologised," added Zanardi. "It's okay. I know he normally races clean, and that is something he did it in the blink of an eye. He said he realised himself that it was unnecessary. From my point of view it was fine. As for people who's asking if I am going to come back, I don't have an answer for them right now."