PIENZA, Italy — Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi has been taken to an Italian hospital after he was involved in an accident during a handbike race Friday.
According to a report from The Associated Press, Zanardi was transported by helicopter to the Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital in Siena following a crash in a race for Paralympic athletes
He reportedly lost control of his handbike during the event on Friday, which led to him moving into oncoming traffic, where he was reportedly struck by a truck.
A bulletin issued by the hospital confirmed Zanardi was undergoing neurosurgery to address his injuries.
“Alex Zanardi, car driver, paracyclist and TV presenter, was hospitalized in very serious conditions at the polyclinic Santa Maria alle Scotte,” the bulletin read. “He was involved in a road accident in the province of Siena. Zanardi was transported with the Pegaso helicopter and landed at the hospital at 6 p.m. (Italian time).
“He was immediately taken care of by the emergency room professionals, assessed int he shock room and his conditions are very serious due to the severe head injury and is currently undergoing a delicate neurosurgery.”
Hospital officials later reported that Zanardi was out of surgery and in an intensive care unit.
The 53-year-old competitor enjoyed a long career in motorsports, which included stints in Formula One and CART. After competing in parts of four Formula One seasons from 1991 to ’94, Zanardi transitioned to the CART series in the United States.
Zanardi found success in CART, winning three races in 1996 en route to a third-place championship finish while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. He followed that up by winning two consecutive CART titles for Ganassi before returning to Formula One in 1999 with Williams.
After a dismal season with Williams in ’99, Zanardi spent the 2000 season looking for a ride before joining Mo Nunn Racing for a return to CART in 2001. Late in the season he was seriously injured in a crash during a CART event at EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Klewttwitz, Germany, that resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.
Even without his legs, Zanardi refused to sit idly by. He eventually returned to motorsports, competing in the World Touring Car Championship for five years from 2005 to ‘09, earning four victories during his time in the series. He returned to American motorsports in 2019, competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona driving a specially modified BMW M8 GTE.
Zanardi has also enjoyed success away from the race track since his accident in Germany, winning four gold medals during Paralympic Games in 2012 and ’16.