Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Two-Time CART Champion Alex Zanardi Dies at 59
Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi, one of motorsport's most celebrated figures, died Friday in Italy at 59. His family said he passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. Zanardi won consecutive CART championships in 1997 and 1998 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, producing 15 victories and 28 podium finishes. Among his most memorable moments was a daring pass on Bryan Herta at Laguna Seca's Corkscrew in 1996. Following a devastating accident at the Lausitzring in 2001 that cost him both legs, Zanardi reinvented himself as a Paralympic cyclist, winning gold medals in 2012 and 2016. His death came on May 1, the same date Ayrton Senna died in 1994 at Imola.
Sources: IndyCar
Racing World Unites in Tribute to Alex Zanardi
The motorsport world united in mourning following the death of two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi on Friday. INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles called him “a magnificent INDYCAR SERIES champion” with an “even more impressive legacy of courage.” Chip Ganassi said Zanardi “was integral in shaping Chip Ganassi Racing into what it has become” and “showed us what it means to fight, adapt and live with purpose.” Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali called him “a close friend” and “truly an inspirational person.” McLaren CEO Zak Brown called Zanardi “an amazing driver, a fierce competitor and a personal inspiration.” The FIA described him as “an incredible sportsman and a remarkable human being.”
Sources: Motorsport Week
Zanardi's CART Championships Remain Among IndyCar's Most Dominant Campaigns
Alex Zanardi's back-to-back CART championships in 1997 and 1998 remain among the most dominant title campaigns in North American open-wheel history. Driving for Chip Ganassi with Target backing, Zanardi won five races in 1997 and seven in 1998. His pass on Bryan Herta through the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 1996 is still considered one of the most audacious moves in series history. He defeated Al Unser Jr., Paul Tracy, and Michael Andretti in their prime. Dario Franchitti, a driver coach and consultant at Ganassi, told Racer he has not seen a driver as dominant in the series since Zanardi claimed those back-to-back titles for Ganassi.
Sources: Racer
Drivers’ Championship
1. Álex Palou — 205 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 188 pts
3. David Malukas — 142 pts
4. Pato O'Ward — 136 pts
5. Christian Lundgaard — 131 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 130 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 127 pts
8. Scott Dixon — 120 pts
9. Felix Rosenqvist — 109 pts
10. Graham Rahal — 106 pts
11. Alexander Rossi — 105 pts
12. Marcus Armstrong — 104 pts
13. Marcus Ericsson — 104 pts
14. Will Power — 89 pts
15. Rinus VeeKay — 79 pts
16. Dennis Hauger — 76 pts
17. Kyffin Simpson — 75 pts
18. Santino Ferrucci — 74 pts
19. Louis Foster — 68 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 61 pts
21. Nolan Siegel — 57 pts
22. Mick Schumacher — 52 pts
23. Christian Rasmussen — 48 pts
24. Caio Collet — 43 pts
25. Sting Ray Robb — 38 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 504 pts
2. Andretti Global — 486 pts
3. Team Penske — 399 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 324 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 213 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing — 174 pts
7. Dale Coyne Racing — 137 pts
8. AJ Foyt Racing — 117 pts
9. Ed Carpenter Racing — 79 pts
10. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 48 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency