- Joined
- 1 September 2001
- Messages
- 4,123
BERLIN (Reuters) - Italian Alex Zanardi was in a critical condition after a spectacular high-speed crash which marred the official European debut of the American CART series Saturday.
Steve Olvey, CART director of medical affairs, described Zanardi's condition as "extremely critical," saying he had suffered severe injuries to both legs and a significant loss of blood.
The 34-year-old Italian, a former Formula One driver for the Williams, Jordan, Minardi and Lotus teams, could react to questions and breathe without assistance immediately after the crash, Olvey added.
Zanardi, who survived a serious Formula One crash in 1993, had just come out of the pits after 142 laps in the 154-lap race at the Lausitzring oval when his Honda/Reynard was struck hard and destroyed by Canadian Alex Tagliani's Ford-Cosworth/Reynard.
The Italian spun across the grass and into the path of Tagliani, who was driving at an estimated 200 mph and could not avoid him. Both cars ended up crashing into a wall and the race was stopped.
Tagliani's condition was reported as less serious. The Canadian, who complained of lower back pain, was awake and alert when he arrived at the track's medical center, Olvey was quoted as saying by the official CART Web site.
Both drivers were airlifted to a Berlin hospital for treatment.
RACE RESTARTED
Zanardi was out of Formula One for nine months after his 1993 accident in a Lotus during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Italian was leading Saturday's race before his pit stop.
The race was later restarted and won by Swede Kenny Brack, driving a Ford Cosworth/Lola. Brack knocked Brazilian Gil de Ferran off the top of the CART standings with his victory.
Italian Max Papis came second, completing a one-two finish for Team Rahal, with Canadian Patrick Carpentier taking third place in a Ford-Cosworth/Reynard. Lausitzring and CART officials decided the race at this new circuit some 90 miles south of Berlin should go ahead despite Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States. Security was reinforced and most of the festivities scheduled around the race were called off.
The name of the event was changed from the German 500 to the American Memorial as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in the United States.
The German race was regarded as a test for the promoters of Lausitzring, a state-of-the-art facility costing $144 million which was inaugurated in August last year and presented as the safest circuit in the world.
Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto was killed during a testing session at the track last April. German investigators said a burst tire was the cause of his fatal crash.
Steve Olvey, CART director of medical affairs, described Zanardi's condition as "extremely critical," saying he had suffered severe injuries to both legs and a significant loss of blood.
The 34-year-old Italian, a former Formula One driver for the Williams, Jordan, Minardi and Lotus teams, could react to questions and breathe without assistance immediately after the crash, Olvey added.
Zanardi, who survived a serious Formula One crash in 1993, had just come out of the pits after 142 laps in the 154-lap race at the Lausitzring oval when his Honda/Reynard was struck hard and destroyed by Canadian Alex Tagliani's Ford-Cosworth/Reynard.
The Italian spun across the grass and into the path of Tagliani, who was driving at an estimated 200 mph and could not avoid him. Both cars ended up crashing into a wall and the race was stopped.
Tagliani's condition was reported as less serious. The Canadian, who complained of lower back pain, was awake and alert when he arrived at the track's medical center, Olvey was quoted as saying by the official CART Web site.
Both drivers were airlifted to a Berlin hospital for treatment.
RACE RESTARTED
Zanardi was out of Formula One for nine months after his 1993 accident in a Lotus during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Italian was leading Saturday's race before his pit stop.
The race was later restarted and won by Swede Kenny Brack, driving a Ford Cosworth/Lola. Brack knocked Brazilian Gil de Ferran off the top of the CART standings with his victory.
Italian Max Papis came second, completing a one-two finish for Team Rahal, with Canadian Patrick Carpentier taking third place in a Ford-Cosworth/Reynard. Lausitzring and CART officials decided the race at this new circuit some 90 miles south of Berlin should go ahead despite Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States. Security was reinforced and most of the festivities scheduled around the race were called off.
The name of the event was changed from the German 500 to the American Memorial as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in the United States.
The German race was regarded as a test for the promoters of Lausitzring, a state-of-the-art facility costing $144 million which was inaugurated in August last year and presented as the safest circuit in the world.
Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto was killed during a testing session at the track last April. German investigators said a burst tire was the cause of his fatal crash.
