Chip Ganassi Racing is set to honor the late Alex Zanardi in a deeply personal way. For the IndyCar round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6, Alex Palou’s car will feature the famous lightning bolt design that defined Ganassi’s championship-winning era in the late 1990s.
The tribute is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Zanardi’s iconic last-lap pass at the Corkscrew in 1996. That move, famously dubbed “The Pass,” saw Zanardi dive past Bryan Herta to snatch victory and secure Rookie of the Year honors in his debut season.
The weekend also marks three decades since Ganassi claimed its first IndyCar championship through Zanardi’s teammate Jimmy Vasser, which also delivered Honda its maiden title in the series.
Palou will run the special scheme on the No. 10 DHL Honda, with the car expected to hit the track for the first time during Friday practice. “I’m so excited to get the lightning bolt back on our car. We’re racing in memory of Alex Zanardi. We’re racing at Laguna, his place, his corner,” Palou said.
“And on top of that, it’s the 30th anniversary of CGR’s and Honda’s first IndyCar championship. So, we’re putting everything together for the fans, for ourselves as well. And hopefully it’s a great race for the No. 10 DHL car,” he added.
Zanardi competed for Ganassi between 1996 and 1998, collecting 15 wins and consecutive titles in 1997 and 1998. His career later became defined by an extraordinary return to competition following the 2001 Lausitzring accident that resulted in the amputation of both legs. He went on to win four WTCC races and competed in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Beyond motorsport, Zanardi became one of the world’s leading para-cyclists, winning four Paralympic gold medals and 12 world championships. He passed away on May 1 this year at age 59.
Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S., stressed that the tribute acknowledges Zanardi’s impact while celebrating DHL’s long involvement in IndyCar. “We are honored to celebrate Alex Zanardi’s legacy, a true motorsports legend whose determination, passion and ‘can-do’ spirit embody the same values that drive our employees every day,” he said.
For Palou, Laguna Seca is one of his strongest tracks. The four-time IndyCar champion has won three times there and has finished on the podium in each of his last five appearances. Another victory would tie Bobby Rahal’s track record, and he could also equal the circuit marks for career poles and podiums with one more of each.
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