Zanardi loses both legs
It's on espn.com
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Here's the article:
Saturday, September 15
Accident casts pall over Brack's win
Associated Press
KLETTWITZ, Germany -- Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs after his car was hit by another traveling about 200 mph Saturday during the American Memorial 500.
CART officials described the 34-year-old Italian's condition as "stable" and said he lost one leg above the knee and one below. He was airlifted to a Berlin hospital for surgery.
Alex Zanardi's car was totalled after colliding with Alex Tagliani.
CART's first race in Europe was originally called the German 500 but was renamed to honor the terrorist victims in the United States. CART is one of the few major U.S.-based sports competing this weekend. The NFL and major league baseball called off all games, the PGA Tour put off its tournaments, and NASCAR postponed its Winston Cup New Hampshire 300 race.
Zanardi was leading with 12 laps to go Saturday when his car left pit road. As he pulled out, he appeared to accelerate too early and lose control as his car swerved across a grassy area.
The car moved into the path of Alex Tagliani's car, scattering debris across the asphalt track before a crowd of 87,600 at the EuroSpeedway.
Tagliani, a Canadian, was "awake and alert," and X-rays showed no serious injuries, CART said. He was being treated at the same hospital and was expected to stay 24-to-48 hours.
Patrick Carpentier, who finished third in the race, managed to avoid Zanardi as the Italian's car entered the track. Tagliani was the next car through.
"I almost hit Zanardi," Carpentier said. "He came up the track and I went sideways and almost hit the wall to avoid him. I didn't know that Tag had hit him. I knew somebody was going to hit him because he was going up the track and we were at full speed."
Zanardi, who was seeking his first victory this season, is one of CART's most high-profile drivers.
Zanardi failed in his first try at Formula One, racing for underfinanced teams, and was a surprise pick to drive for Chip Gannassi in 1996 in CART.
He was an immediate star in the Champ car series, winning Rookie of the Year honors, and then winning championships in 1997 and 1998 -- one of only three back-to-back series champions ever.
He then left CART for another try at Formula One, but did not fare well with the Williams team and retired from racing.
Zanardi sat out the 2000 season but was lured back to CART by Morris Nunn, his former engineer at Gannassi and now a team owner.
He holds the modern CART record for points in a season, with 285 in 1998. He also holds the CART record for most consecutive poles (six), front row starts (11) and top-three finishes in a season (15).
Kenny Brack of Sweden won Saturday's race under a yellow flag. Max Papis of Italy was second and Patrick Carpentier third. It was Brack's fourth victory of the season and moved him into the season's lead in the drivers' standings.
Brack has 131 points with five races remaining. Defending champion Gil de Ferran had 120 and Michael Andretti has 115. De Ferran finished eighth and Andretti fourth.
"I pray for my friend Alessandro (Zanardi) that he is going to be OK," Papis said.
Saturday, September 15
Accident casts pall over Brack's win
Associated Press
KLETTWITZ, Germany -- Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs after his car was hit by another traveling about 200 mph Saturday during the American Memorial 500.
CART officials described the 34-year-old Italian's condition as "stable" and said he lost one leg above the knee and one below. He was airlifted to a Berlin hospital for surgery.
Alex Zanardi's car was totalled after colliding with Alex Tagliani.
CART's first race in Europe was originally called the German 500 but was renamed to honor the terrorist victims in the United States. CART is one of the few major U.S.-based sports competing this weekend. The NFL and major league baseball called off all games, the PGA Tour put off its tournaments, and NASCAR postponed its Winston Cup New Hampshire 300 race.
Zanardi was leading with 12 laps to go Saturday when his car left pit road. As he pulled out, he appeared to accelerate too early and lose control as his car swerved across a grassy area.
The car moved into the path of Alex Tagliani's car, scattering debris across the asphalt track before a crowd of 87,600 at the EuroSpeedway.
Tagliani, a Canadian, was "awake and alert," and X-rays showed no serious injuries, CART said. He was being treated at the same hospital and was expected to stay 24-to-48 hours.
Patrick Carpentier, who finished third in the race, managed to avoid Zanardi as the Italian's car entered the track. Tagliani was the next car through.
"I almost hit Zanardi," Carpentier said. "He came up the track and I went sideways and almost hit the wall to avoid him. I didn't know that Tag had hit him. I knew somebody was going to hit him because he was going up the track and we were at full speed."
Zanardi, who was seeking his first victory this season, is one of CART's most high-profile drivers.
Zanardi failed in his first try at Formula One, racing for underfinanced teams, and was a surprise pick to drive for Chip Gannassi in 1996 in CART.
He was an immediate star in the Champ car series, winning Rookie of the Year honors, and then winning championships in 1997 and 1998 -- one of only three back-to-back series champions ever.
He then left CART for another try at Formula One, but did not fare well with the Williams team and retired from racing.
Zanardi sat out the 2000 season but was lured back to CART by Morris Nunn, his former engineer at Gannassi and now a team owner.
He holds the modern CART record for points in a season, with 285 in 1998. He also holds the CART record for most consecutive poles (six), front row starts (11) and top-three finishes in a season (15).
Kenny Brack of Sweden won Saturday's race under a yellow flag. Max Papis of Italy was second and Patrick Carpentier third. It was Brack's fourth victory of the season and moved him into the season's lead in the drivers' standings.
Brack has 131 points with five races remaining. Defending champion Gil de Ferran had 120 and Michael Andretti has 115. De Ferran finished eighth and Andretti fourth.
"I pray for my friend Alessandro (Zanardi) that he is going to be OK," Papis said.
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Tulsa, OK
Originally posted by Roceye
Cart should have cancelled the damn race...
They are such a bunch of fools.
Cart should have cancelled the damn race...
They are such a bunch of fools.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,702
Likes: 8,219
From: Mish-she-gan
More details... this sounds different from the AP story but the results the same:
And then it happened. The reality of the luxury we have here in racing, the delicacy of life. The realization, again, that what we do and the sport we love, is trivial. With less than 20 laps left in the race, Alex Zanardi exited pitlane from his final pitstop. He was running for a podium, maybe even that win that has alluded him since his return to Champ cars. As his #66 emerged from pit-out, the rear end of his car stepped out. Zanardi was tackling it back under control when Alex Tagliani T-boned the askew car at top speed. Tagliani
And then it happened. The reality of the luxury we have here in racing, the delicacy of life. The realization, again, that what we do and the sport we love, is trivial. With less than 20 laps left in the race, Alex Zanardi exited pitlane from his final pitstop. He was running for a podium, maybe even that win that has alluded him since his return to Champ cars. As his #66 emerged from pit-out, the rear end of his car stepped out. Zanardi was tackling it back under control when Alex Tagliani T-boned the askew car at top speed. Tagliani
