CART: Alex Zanardi Notes and Quotes, Monterrey Post Race
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
#66 Pioneer-WorldCom/Mo Nunn Racing Honda-ReynardTecate/Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix – Race Notes/Quotes – Sunday, March. 11
Parque Fundidora – Monterrey, Mexico – 2.1-Mile Road Course
Round 1 of 21 on the 2001 CART FedEx Championship Series
Alex Zanardi’s return to the CART FedEx Championship Series ended on a disappointing note when he tangled with another car on Lap 40 of 78 laps completed today and damaged his front suspension. It was an uphill battle from the beginning as he started from the 22nd position, and fell back three more spots when he spun on Lap 28. He appeared to be gaining ground from there, recording among the fastest laps of the race at the time, before he slid off-course with the car of Shinji Nakano on Lap 40. He was able to return to the pits, but the suspension damage was deemed terminal.
Zanardi’s teammate Tony Kanaan, meanwhile, brought home the #55 Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing Honda-Reynard in seventh place, the team’s best finish in the first race of only its second season. Cristiano da Matta scored the victory today, accompanied on the podium by defending series champion Gil de Ferran and Paul Tracy.
The series takes a month off before returning for Round 2 on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., on April 8.
ALEX ZANARDI
“It was a lack of patience, I guess, mixed with a little bit of bad luck that put us out of the race. I’d like to apologize to Pioneer and WorldCom and the whole Mo Nunn team. The worst part is now we have to wait a month before we get to go out and redeem ourselves. I had a good car today after our share of little problems all weekend long. We still have a little bit of ground to cover, but we’re in good shape as we move on from here.”
Text Provided By Laz Denes
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