Zanardi returns to scene of crash to complete race

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Alex Zanardi completed what he called his "20-month pitstop" yesterday when he returned to action at the same EuroSpeedway where he lost both his legs – and nearly his life – in a gruesome crash with Alex Tagliani.

"Here comes Alex," the public address announcer screamed each time Zanardi flashed by, driving a maroon-and-white Champ Car with the No 66 stencilled on the side at speeds of up to 195 mph.

Zanardi pitted after 13 "ceremonial laps", the number he still needed to complete on 15 September 2001, when he swerved back on to the Lausitz oval after a pit stop, lost control and was struck broadside by the Canadian, Tagliani.

"This has been emotional for me, a lot of things are going through my mind. But I'm happy I was able to complete the race from one-and-a-half years ago," Zanardi said. "Maybe the most emotional moment came on Friday in testing when I got goosebumps when my memories of the race started to come back to me. Today I was concentrating on the job I had to do and I was keeping my eyes on the road."

He added: "I'm just happy that I can leave with memories of this highest level of racing rather than my last memory being a big shunt. I'm proud of what I did."

Zanardi drove the car using a hand control for the clutch and throttle. He braked with his artificial right leg, which was fitted to a special pedal.

Zanardi's top time of 37.487 seconds would have put him fifth on the grid for yesterday's German 500. He said he has no plans to return to "top class" driving but may race "low pressure" events such as the Daytona International Raceway 24-hour race.