Alex Zanardi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alex Zanardi |
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Zanardi in 2019
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| Nationality |  Italian |
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| Born | Alessandro Zanardi 23 October 1966 Bologna, Italy |
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| Debut season | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Touring Car Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | BMW Team Italy-Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Car no. | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starts | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poles | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fastest laps | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best finish | 10th in 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 1992, 2005–06 2003–04 1996–98, 2001 1991–94, 99 1989 & 91 1988–90 |
DTM Italian Superturismo ETCC CART FedEx Championship Series Formula One F3000 International Italian F3 |
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| Championship titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 1997–98 1990 |
Italian Superturismo CART FedEx Championship Series European F3 Cup |
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| Formula One World Championship career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Active years | 1991–1994, 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | Jordan, Minardi, Lotus, Williams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entries | 44 (41 starts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championships | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Podiums | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career points | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First entry | 1991 Spanish Grand Prix | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last entry | 1999 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champ Car career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 66 races run over 4 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1996–1998, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team(s) | Chip Ganassi Racing Mo Nunn Racing |
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| Best finish | 1st (1997), (1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First race | 1996 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami (Homestead) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last race | 2001 American Memorial (Lausitz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First win | 1996 Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 (Portland) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last win | 1998 Honda Indy 300 (Surfers Paradise) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi (born 23 October 1966) is an Italian professional racing driver and paracyclist. He is famous for his success in motorsports and for his incredible comeback after a life-changing accident.
Zanardi won the American CART racing series in 1997 and 1998. He also raced in Formula One. In 2001, he was in a major crash that resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.
Amazingly, Zanardi returned to racing cars less than two years later. He then discovered handcycling, a type of cycling for athletes with disabilities. He became a champion in this new sport, winning four gold medals at the Paralympic Games. His determination has inspired people all over the world.
Contents
Early Life and Racing Dreams
Alex Zanardi was born in Bologna, Italy, on October 23, 1966. He fell in love with racing as a boy and began racing karts at age 13. He was very creative, even building his first kart from dustbin wheels and pipes.
He quickly moved up through different racing levels. By 1991, he was racing in the Formula 3000 series, which is a step below Formula One. He won his very first race and finished second in the championship that year.
Career in Motorsports
Zanardi's talent took him to the highest levels of car racing, including Formula One and the American CART series.
Formula One Journey
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Zanardi raced in Formula One for several seasons between 1991 and 1999. He drove for famous teams like Jordan, Lotus, and Williams.
His time in F1 was challenging. He helped his teams improve their cars, especially with new technology like active suspension. His best result was a sixth-place finish at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix. Although he didn't win any F1 championships, he gained valuable experience.
CART Championship Success
In 1995, Zanardi moved to the United States to race in the CART series (now known as IndyCar). He quickly became a star and one of the most popular drivers.
In his first year, he won three races and was named Rookie of the Year. He became famous for a daring move at the Laguna Seca racetrack in 1996. On the last lap, he made a thrilling overtake at a tricky corner called the "Corkscrew" to win the race. This move is still remembered by fans as "The Pass."
Zanardi's best years were 1997 and 1998, when he won the CART championship two years in a row. He was known for celebrating his wins by spinning his car in circles, creating "doughnuts" with his tires on the track.
A Life-Changing Accident
"When I woke up without legs, I looked at the half that was left, not the half that was lost".
In 2001, Zanardi returned to the CART series. On September 15, during a race at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany, he was in a terrible accident. After a pit stop, his car spun on the track and was hit by another car.
The crash was very serious. Zanardi was badly injured and lost both of his legs. Doctors worked quickly to save his life. His strength and positive attitude during his recovery amazed everyone.
Return to Racing
Zanardi showed incredible determination by returning to professional racing. He refused to let his injuries stop him from doing what he loved.
Driving with Hand Controls
Less than two years after his accident, Zanardi was back in a race car. He used specially designed cars with hand controls for the gas and brakes. In 2003, he drove the 13 laps he never got to finish at the Lausitzring, and his lap time was fast enough to have qualified fifth for the race.
From 2005 to 2009, he competed in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for BMW. He won four races in the series, proving he was still a top competitor. He even tested a Formula One car again in 2006.
A New Chapter in Handcycling
Besides racing cars, Zanardi discovered a new passion: handcycling. This sport is a form of cycling where athletes use their arms and hands to power the bike.
Paralympic Glory
Zanardi set a goal to compete for Italy in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. He trained hard and quickly became one of the best handcyclists in the world.
At the London 2012 Games, he won two gold medals and one silver medal. He won two more gold medals and a silver at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also became a world champion in the sport multiple times.
Zanardi also competed in triathlons. In 2018, he set a new world record for a disabled athlete in the Ironman competition, a very difficult triathlon event.
2020 Cycling Accident
On June 19, 2020, Zanardi was in another serious accident while competing in a handcycling race in Italy. He was badly injured and needed several surgeries. He has been in recovery since the accident, showing his fighting spirit once again. By December 2021, he was able to return home to continue his rehabilitation.
Personal Life
Zanardi has been married to Daniela Manni since 1996, and they have a son named Niccolò. He has written books about his life and experiences. His story of overcoming challenges has made him a hero to many people, both in and out of the world of sports.
Images for kids
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Zanardi driving for Williams at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix
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Zanardi at a pre-Grand Prix test at Monza in 1999
See also
In Spanish: Alex Zanardi para niños
