CART: Is Zanardi Returning?

26 March 2000

By David Treffer
Contributing Editor-The AutoChannel

HOMESTEAD, FL: Alex Zanardi made a triumphant return to the CART family yesterday. Zanardi was not here to announce his return to CART or to any other form of motorsport at the current time. Nope, the likable Italian decided to come back to visit friends that he had not seen in many months.

The past year has been a tough one for the former two-time ('97 & '98)CART Champion who left the CART series to make a second attempt driving in Formula One. The experience in F1 this time around was at best dismal.

Zanardi was emphatic that his visit should not be interpreted as a return to the series. "No, I am just here to see some friends and enjoy a good race." Trying to belie the obvious Zanardi's return could be a precursor for a three-car effort at Indy this year. Ganassi is the second CART owner to enter a team at the fabled race.

Zanardi was asked about his relationship with Ganassi and Target. "I was in a great opportunity. My association with Target was not a job it was a hobby. I was able to meet some great people and make some great friends. Right now I do not have the motivation but I still feel like a racecar driver."

One of the often reported stories last year was that Zanardi was homesick. His wife, Daniella, was pregnant with their first child. The storyline was that Alex was ready to get home to Italy. His parallel decision to go to F1 only fueled that story. Zanardi commented, "Yesterday when I landed I was enthusiastic to be back. Even though this is my second home I felt very welcomed. Now all of the speculation is that I will return to CART after failing in Formula 1. That is not the case."

The two year-deal with Willaims would have ended the end of this year. "The deal with Williams is terminated. It was a shame the way it ended. I would have liked to done better. At least we did not drag something that I had. It was a relationship that was not meant to be and I wish them all of the luck in world."

Asked a question about his good friend Rubens Barichello, Zanardi replied, "It would be great to see Rubens win a race. Politically it would be great. Will it happen, well you cannot judge the times on Friday. Friday in Formula 1 means nothing."

Zanardi was thankfully blunt in his assessment of the racing situation in the United States. "The one thing I do not understand here in America.... there is this mentality that if you like CART you have to hate IRL. I like motor racing, there is no reason that I should not like other forms of motorsports. If you are a CART fan you are not supposed to be a IRL fan. But CART is still the best compromise of motorsports. It is a series at a very high level. It is still a sport. In Formula 1 the technology has taken over. It is no longer a sport. I still get up to watch Formula 1 and I fall asleep until the end."

The speculation of his return to CART or racing will be a spectator sport in the months to come. "I have not made any decision about my return. I am certain that if I wanted to I could go back to Formula 1 and turn my career around. But it cannot be done for revenge. Life is too short just to prove to people that it can be done."

Zanardi was blunt about his assessment of his stint with Williams. "I should have pushed harder to change a few things. My style [driving] cannot always be right. But once you start to lose the confidence it is a never-ending situation and it is difficult to change things around. When I joined the team [Williams] I was given a technical manager. Your relationship with him is particularly important."

Zanardi was asked about the CART v.IRL situation. "I would love to race at Indianapolis. It would be good to have a lot of drivers all together to compete against each other. I think a lot of the IRL drivers are very good. This could be a warning to Chip how good the driver's are. I do not want to involve myself in the political situation [CART v.IRL] but it would be nice to see the best drivers at Indy."

So what lies ahead for Zanardi will be the center of speculation. A best guess right now would be a third entry at Indianapolis with his old Target team. As always, time will reveal the answer.

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