CART Champion Zanardi in Stable Condition Following Accident at the American Memorial ©2001 SpeedCenter Publishing A CT scan and X-rays revealed no injuries for Tagliani UPDATE:Monday October 1 According to CART Director of Medical Affairs, Dr. Steve Olvey, two-time FedEx Series champion Alex Zanardi's condition continues to progress well from his injuries resulting from his Sept. 15 race accident in Germany. Olvey said that Zanardi has been requiring minor operative procedures on his left leg at the Krankenhaus Berlin-Marzahn hospital in Berlin. The process is expected to be completed soon and at that time he will be discharged from the hospital and head to Italy to begin rehabilitation. Olvey, who spoke with Zanardi, said he sounds upbeat and has been talking frequently with his friends from around the world. He also has been maneuvering his wheelchair around the hospital. According to Olvey, Zanardi is looking forward to rehabilitation as well as developing improved prosthetic devices in the future. Friday September 22 Alex Zanardi underwent a successful final surgery Friday to inspect and clean the injured areas. He continues to progress satisfactorily, and remains in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn (hospital). UPDATE: Friday September 21 Alex Zanardi has been awake and is aware of his condition. He seems to be accepting the news as well as could be expected, taking the view that he will still be able to spend time with his wife, Daniela, and son, Niccolo. He is scheduled for one final surgery today, which will clean his wounds one more time. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn (hospital). UPDATE: Thursday September 20 According to Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi is awake and talking today at Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn (hospital), but remains on pain medication for the injuries. He is expected to have his final surgery to inspect and clean the injured areas Friday. His condition continues to improve on a daily basis. UPDATE: Wednesday September 19 From Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs: Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi came out of his medically induced coma last night, but remained sedated. He underwent his second surgery today to inspect and further clean the injured areas. He continutes to progress satisfactorily. Alex Tagliani is now home in Quebec, Canada however he is still stiff and sore from his crash and requires hot baths, stretching and massaging to regain his flexibility. UPDATE: Monday September 17 @ 4:10 p.m. EST The following update on Champ Car driver Alex Zanardi was provided earlier Monday by Dr. Walter Schaffartzik, Director of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Unfallkrankenhaus (Hospital) Berlin: A scheduled surgery was conducted to clean out wounds and make sure no pieces of debris from the injury remained. The procedure lasted two hours and went well. This procedure is consistent with the practice for this type of injury. It is expected that this type of surgery will be performed every 48 hours over the next several days. Zanardi is in critical but non-life-threatening condition. He is stable and doctors are starting to reduce medication, which has placed him in a medically-induced coma. Zanardi's family has asked that donations be made to the World Association to Aid Children. Checks in his name may be forwarded to: Assosiation Mondial pur l'Aid des Enfant, Star Team For Children, 20 Avenue de Fontvieille, MC 98000, Monaco. Cards and letters can be sent to: Mo Nunn Racing; 2920 Fortune Circle West, Suite E; Indianapolis, IN 46241. LAUSITZ, Germany (September 15, 2001) - Two-time CART racing champion Alex Zanardi, 34, of Bologna, Italy, was in critical condition at Berlin's Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn hospital Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a late-race accident during The American Memorial CART event at Lausitz, Germany. According to Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, Zanardi was airlifted to Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn hospital following a two-car accident with Alex Tagliani, which occurred as Zanardi exited the pit lane following his final fuel stop on the 142nd of 154 laps. He underwent a three-hour procedure that resulted in the traumatic amputation of both legs above the knee. A CT scan of Zanardi's head was normal. He sustained a moderately severe concussion and was beginning to show signs of purposeful movement before going into surgery at about 6 p.m. local time. He also sustained several small fractures of the pelvis that did not require surgery. As of late Saturday night, Zanardi was in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, where he is expected to remain for the next several days. Tagliani was awake and alert at Klinikum Berlin-Marzahn, where a CT scan and X-rays revealed no injuries. He was expected to remain under observation at the hospital for the next 24 to 48 hours. Zanardi had returned to Champ Car competition for Mo Nunn Racing this season following a two-year absence. His three-year career spanning 1996-98 was one of the most spectacular in CART history, including back-to-back championships in 1997 and '98. Zanardi earned 15 victories and 10 pole positions in 66 CART starts, and was the 1996 Rookie of the Year prior to earning his back-to-back championships. He joined Rick Mears (1981-82) and Bobby Rahal (1986-87) as the only drivers ever to win back-to-back driving titles in CART's 22-year history. Zanardi holds CART records for podium finishes in a season (15 in 1998), consecutive pole positions (6, 1996-97) and most consecutive front-row starts (10, 1996-97). He shares the CART record for consecutive victories (4 in 1998) with Al Unser Jr.

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