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©1998 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. The adaptability required tobe a two-time champion in the FedEx Championship Series is thefirst thing Alex Zanardi pointed to when he talked about leaving theTarget Chip Ganassi Racing Team Tuesday. Zanardi, who will join Williams Grand Prix on the Formula Onecircuit in 1999 in the first season of a three-year deal, was quickto credit the versatility of his Champ Car experience as the thingthat has most helped him as he has won 14 times in 48 CARTstarts. "You must be like a chameleon to win in CART," said Zanardi. "It'slike winning the World Cup in skiing. You must be able to win thegiant slalom, the slalom and the downhill to be a champion. "It's the same in Champ Car racing. To win the PPG Cup, youmust be able to win on many types of venues - road circuits,street circuits, small ovals and super speedways. That makesCART very challenging and very special and it has been a greatopportunity for me. "I've learned a lot from (teammate) Jimmy Vasser, too. He hashelped me to learn that patience is something that can help youwin races. That goes along with my desire to never give up.Whether I am racing for first place or 20th, it's important that Inever give up. If there's one thing that I think I have done to pull theteam along sometimes is not giving up." Ganassi wished Zanardi well in his new endeavor and noted thathis relationship with the Italian has been very special. "Alex has great to deal with. He has a great sense of humor andhas been unlike any other driver I have dealt with in my time as anowner," said Ganassi. "He is very passionate about the sport andthat passion is apparent in his approach to racing. His relationshipwith the team, fans, sponsors and media is one that is veryspecial and we certainly will miss him." Zanardi said he is looking forward to the final three races of theseason - at Houston, Australia and California Speedway - and hisdesire to win has not waned as he prepares for the end of histhree-year CART career. "I love to race and miss it very much when I am not in the car,"said Zanardi. "There is no reason why we cannot win the finalthree races and we are doing everything we can to do that overthe next few weeks. "I have been very, very fortunate to have had the opportunity I didwith Chip and Target and all the great people on the race team. Ihave everything I could want at Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Iwill miss the people there as well as all the fans who havesupported me in CART. It's been a dream life for me and Danielathe past three years and it has prepared us well for our nextchallenge. Who knows what the future holds, though. Maybe,someday, I could decide to come back." Ganassi said his search for a new driver to join Vasser, whorecently signed a three-year agreement with the team, isprogressing but he set no timetable for a decision. Source: CART News Service | ||
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