Laguna Seca has found its own way to honor one of the most iconic moments in American racing history. On Friday morning, Alex Zanardi was officially immortalized through the renaming of its legendary corner.
The track section known as the Corkscrew now officially bears the name The Zanardi Corkscrew. This tribute comes 30 years after Zanardi's extraordinary move overtaking Bryan Herta at that corner on the final lap of the 1996 IndyCar race.
A memorial now stands near the complex of corners, complete with fresh track markings dedicated to the racer's memory. This moment also serves as a touching final farewell, as Zanardi passed away earlier this year at the age of 59.
Chip Ganassi, the team boss who fielded Zanardi at the time, attended the dedication ceremony. He recalled how the 1996 race at Laguna Seca was a title decider, with three drivers in contention for the championship: Jimmy Vasser, Michael Andretti, and Al Unser Jr. Three engine manufacturers were also battling closely, as were three different chassis.
“Jimmy Vasser ended up winning the championship,” Ganassi remembered. “But you know what? I was that damn Alex Zanardi who stole the show from everyone.” Ganassi also recounted that Vasser was frustrated because media attention was more focused on “The Pass” than his first title.
The moment Ganassi refers to is when Zanardi swept down the inside of the Corkscrew in his distinctive red car, complete with a yellow lightning bolt on the side of the cockpit. The momentum carried him wide onto the gravel at the steep descent, but he maintained control, rejoined the track, and held the lead to take victory.
That was Zanardi's rookie season in IndyCar, and the win was his third of the year. He went on to claim the championship in the next two seasons, both with Chip Ganassi Racing. Even a horrific crash in 2001 that cost him both legs did not stop his ambitions; he later earned four gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
This season, Chip Ganassi Racing is also paying tribute with a special livery on Alex Palou's car featuring a nod to Zanardi's iconic lightning bolt. It's a way to ensure the spirit of “The Pass” lives on at Laguna Seca forever.
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