The Tragic Story of Alex Zanardi [Documentary]

[@Driver61]

👉 Download Opera and experience faster, distraction-free browsing today: opr.as/Opera-browser-driver61

[@gringostarr69]

Have to agree with the end quote. Alex you are the man! Keep on fighting!!!! All the best from a huge fan from Finland! ❤

[@macaalf8219]

Used to use opera until it constantly broke down because of "lack of memory" so had to restart the computer and the adblock stopped worjking. I now use Brave, way better and lighter!

[@BrandonQuiroga-pr9sy]

Ovedrive en español pls😢

@@BrandonQuiroga-pr9sythere is a Spanish translation of the video. You can change the subtitles.

[@ruddgrandprix-speedrunraci8515]

*Clicks Declined Sponsorship*

[@dofphish]

As a disabled man, I love this guy. He's who people should look up to for inspiration. A winner. NEVER give up!!!!!

[@creid7537]

… and marry the right woman (Zanardi’s wife rocks)

[@charlesdarwin7253]

Hey.. don't be ableist! They are called "differently abled" not "disabled" ;)

[@ThePerks2010]

​@@charlesdarwin7253haha I'm not telling you what my friends call me then 😂😂😂😂

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Im fully abled and still look up to his inspirational attitude.

[@philgiglio7922]

Christopher Reeve was another exemplar of grit Look up Sir Douglas Bader for another

[@Takumitsuu]

To have a car named after you, (Acura NSX Zanardi edition) is a sign of an absolute legend!

[@JoelFazio]

Tell that to my daughters, Volvo Toyota Fazio and Dacia Fiat Fazio.

[@Eis_]

Zanardi edition: You don't need legs to drive it.

[@MrMuz99]

​@@Eis_ - That's brutal, man.

[@jerseyelite1762]

cool it must be a 2 wheeler

[@antecalic8881]

And not any car at that. One of the best cars ever made!

[@GamezGuru1]

they need to make a movie about this man's incredible life...

[@RagingStream]

Amazing how you can see docummentaries on incients at a football match or how birds poop but heroes are neglected.

[@BrennenButler]

If they made one for Michael Schumacher they can make one for zanardi

[@ih8temoney]

Netflix....at the least.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

If you mean Hollywood, then I'd say making a film about him is not a good idea. His life is too inspirational and he is too white to have a screenwriter write a biopic about him. I'm not joking, this is genuinely how Hollywood screenwriters think.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

When the heck did a biopic about Michael get made? It must have been awful.

[@TrueLeviathan86]

Thank you for this video. Zanardi is a well known legend in Italy and he does deserve to be known more abroad. Alex is also an extremely nice and intelligent person, I think this is fundamental to understand his life. He's definitely the strongest person I know.

[@crazydrummer181]

He’s a racing legend in America to us Indy fans that’s for sure.

[@ih8temoney]

He is known in the UK as well!!! Friends and I LOVE HIM!!! a World Hero THE GOAT.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

Literally, his upper body strength is unreal!

[@jaredbawden6707]

He's well known globally. I'm an Australian and have always admired this man and his strength, especially after his big crash.

[@ShinyPigrat]

His parents seem like wonderful people, to lose a child and still let your other kid fulfill their dream of racing. That takes strength.

[@medler2110]

So true, this maybe explains where some of his amazing inner strength comes from.

[@MAKGaming30]

It made me cry just how much they cared about who there son wanted to be no matter what❤

[@rogeredwards3563]

I worked for Energizer in the mid-late 90's when Zanardi and Vassar were driving for Ganassi. They came to our corporate office, each gave a small speech, signed autographs, all the the things. I got to meet Alex, shake his hand and exchange pleasantries. He is a lovely man. He signed a giant poster for the company that was later framed and placed in the lobby for years. When our corporate offices moved to another location, they put the framed/signed poster up in a raffle. I was NOT going to not have this poster. I can't remember how much I spent on it, but I won the raffle and that picture now hangs in MY office at home. It is truly one of my most valued possessions. It is my hope that Alex makes yet another full recovery and can live out the remainder of his life enjoying his wife and family and all the things life has to offer. What an amazing man.

[@brianmuhlingBUM]

Love it!

[@scottydoesntno]

My mom worked for Honda at the corporate office and we got to meet Alex a few times. All of the Honda teams would go to the corporate office and sign autographs and do meet and greets with the families. We also got VIP access at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

[@jensonhartmann3630]

Im paralyzed from the waist down, from a car accident when i was a toddler, Alex was one of the greatest reasons why i got on the race track. i've done a few track days with NASA in the HPDE class, and had a blast. I want to go back racing but as we all know, racing aint cheap lol. But none the less, Alex has shown me i CAN do it.

[@JoshuaC923]

All the power to you🙌🏻🙌🏻💪🏻💪🏻🔥🔥

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

Have you done any of the hand-biking that he was medaling in? If so, whats that like? (I understand if thats not the racing you are into tho)

[@jensonhartmann3630]

@@extragoogleaccount6061 hey man, great question. I actually had a racing bike, very similar to his, albeit, his way top of the line and custom built for him, and mine was an "off the shelf" bike from Quickie, but i never got into it competitively. Just goofing around with my neighborhood friends. we were all the similar age, and they had BMX bikes and my parents wanted me to be included with them so they got me a racing bike so i could keep up. it was a 27 speed, so i'd wax their ass most of the time hahah. i didnt even know competitive adaptive bike racing was a thing until i outgrew the frame AFTER i donated it.

[@creid7537]

Apparently, as Zanardi lay in a coma after losing his legs in 2001, his wife ordered him a custom high performance BMW with all hand controls - she knew when he got out of the hospital he would want to go for a drive.

[@silent_bob_]

One can't ask for a better wife than that.

[@WhatDemocracy]

That was 10/10 content! Zanardis story is absolutely mind-blowing. Guy needs his biopic movie now!

[@raffaelgunther5342]

Also worth noticing is that he competed for a Race Weekend in dtm in 2018 where he Managed to score points against drivers Like Pascal wehrlein,Paul du Resta, Timo Glock and Many more what a legend

[@ThePerks2010]

To be fair my mum in her Astra could probably score more points than Di Resta

[@raffaelgunther5342]

@@ThePerks2010 di resta was actually Quite decent in dtm

[@ThePerks2010]

@@raffaelgunther5342 i know, I'm only messing about. just mocking him based entirely on his f1 run, fully aware he was a bit of a beast in lower/different classes

[@niclebowski9214]

i remember that weekend, iwas so happy for him, Keep in mind that we are talking about the real dtm with car that are more like prototypes

[@CASEMSTR]

And when he did the Daytona 24 with BMW and set the fastest lap of the night, multiple times

[@Model_Student]

Absolute chills watching the footage of him making up those previously incomplete laps.

[@pedrohenriquevilarmiranda1904]

For sure made my eyes foggy and wet 🥲🥲

[@adamclarke7394]

Alex has been my inspiration for years. I was diagnosed with incurable blood cancer 10 years ago. I adopted his undaunted spirit and "never give up attitude" to continue fighting hard. I would love to see Alex back doing what he does, and I hope that happens.

[@ih8temoney]

I don't care what anyone says Alex Zanardi IS the GOAT.

[@chris_2208]

He and Ayrton are the legend.

[@fathertimegaming17]

He's not at the goat at driving. He's the goat at life.

[@samuelgarrod8327]

That's good because no one cares what you say either.

[@ih8temoney]

@@samuelgarrod8327 Really? Then why comment? I must have hit a nerve Mr Troll.

[@DrPepperone]

Amazing. If anyone deserves a retrospective it is Zanardi

[@charlesdarwin7253]

You are watching one right now!

[@Wolfsherz]

The fffffuuuuuuck you mean "retrospective". This, this is an UPDATE. Mark my words Alex is going to make competitors roll their eyes mumbling "ah ffs here we go again" where ever he shows up once more, don't know what discipline, don't know what time, but this man ain't done yet.

[@amjan]

Mansell, Senna, Zanardi, Montoya - the wildest drivers I've ever watched.

[@crusherbmx]

I'd add Gilles and Jacques

[@siabell]

the only thing wild about Mansell was his facial hair

[@jaredbawden6707]

​​@siabell you clearly don't know enough about Mansell. He was an animal in a race car. So much so that when he raced for Ferrari, the tifosi called him il lion or The Lion in English.

[@Karthik-nv6ry]

What a human being Man of steel Respect Alex zanardi 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@scottdelong1]

That was a beautifully written, narrated, and edited documentary. I lost my lower body function (paraplegic) in a motorcycle accident; was moved to tears. Also, had no idea how articulate Alex is. Respect.

[@newhorizons.english]

Absolute legend. I genuinely felt like crying for his stories of tragedy and success. I hope all goes well for him.

[@TonyLUpchurch]

I remember talking with Alex every year he came to Detroit, and I looked forward to the time in the paddock, Alex Zanardi is one of these people that you never forget when you talk with him, he told me that he was a fan that got lucky enough to race 🏁 it seem to me that when he was injured in 2001, everyone forgot about Alex because of 9/11 and that really pisses me off.. he is a special champion and the whole world should know about Alex Zanardi.. God bless you Alex keep fighting Sir , and Thank you for taking the time to talk with the fans..

[@brentjablonski3730]

Thanks for the great video. Zanardi is a personal hero of mine. I wish him the best on his recovery.

[@steam1100dan]

What an amazing guy, and so inspirational. Great story well told thank you👍

[@AlfredRooks]

Thanks for telling Alex' story.

[@kaiserofive4250]

What an incredible human being. When you think you are having a tough day or life, you then see what someone like Mr Zanardi has been through, you soon realise some of us have it easy. Hope he recovers and can finish his incredible journey.

[@o0Raine0o]

i met him in 2015 when i climbed some "hills" in the alps with my friend, he was going up those 1800m mountains with his little handbike while we wereon bikes... incredible man...

[@kenharris5390]

No superlatives could adequately describe this fantastic human being and his devoted wife.

[@SpaceHCowboy]

Well said.

[@adamplace1414]

One of my very few heroes. Thanks for this! I'd like to add my thanks to Steve Olvey and the entire crew of doctors and paramedics at that race and the hospital, for saving Alex in Germany that day - CART had maybe the best safety team in the world back then, and thank goodness they did.

[@adrianwintle5284]

Read Dr Olvey's book Rapid Response (or watch the video) to understand how close it was.

[@tjantilag]

What a man, what a life. Genuine definition of a hero.

[@fazz27]

Thanks for the video. Alex Zanardi is the true GOAT. Legend. Total inspiration.

[@RobsRobertson]

Alex Zanardi is unbelievable! ❤️🙏 Thank you for the video 👍

[@speedways1]

What a wonderful tribute to Alex. Very personal to me as I worked with Alex,Jimmy and all the guys at CGR. I did the photography work for Target’s advertising agency and further worked with Pioneer sponsor with Mo,Nunn Racing. Alex was such a professional in everything he did, both in the car and out. I last saw Alex when he last visited The Indianapolis Motor Speedway for qualifying. He is just a sweet guy. I was on the way to the airport on that fateful day in 2001 and wasn’t able to make my flight to Germany, however once the airplanes began to fly I mage it to UK for the next race. It was surreal. Looking back, I’m glad I wasn’t there. Thank you for documenting his life.

[@barryjones1884]

A true hero. I had a chance to meet him once while still in CART and he couldn’t have been more friendly and down to earth.

[@Comestomind]

What a wonderful tribute to a truly remarkable racer and human. I was crushed when I heard about the accident with the truck and have been looking for more information about how he's recovering. Thank you for this. If there ever was someone that I would call my hero, Alex Zanardi is that.

[@karl-unoisaksson4000]

So beautiful... So much love... This is one of the most heartwarming stories ever told about kids with a dream... Racers are a special breed: Peterson, Villeneuve, Senna... And lots of others... Thanx för sharing 🙏 Love from Sweden 💖 Och jag anser att Mats bör dö...

[@FRS_Heero]

I saw the title and I knew immediately who it was. Zanardi has never been on of my favorite drivers, but just like Niki Lauda there's something about his story that is AWE inspiring and FIRE starting. I have much respect for Alex, a Driver that has qualities you can't teach.

[@ThatSockmonkey]

Fantastic doco of a great driver and a great man. There's no explaining luck, fortune, whatever you want to call it, but he never quit. I admire the hell out of him for that alone.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Alex is my absolute hero, especially as I'm physically disabled too. He's always been special, even before that dreadful accident. I must admit that I cried my eyes out when he returned to the Lausitzring. He's one of the genuine GOATs of humanity, let alone racing. Btw, he won (some of, if not all of) the London Olympics at the Brands Hatch circuit. Could you look into Billy Monger? His win at Pau after his accident, in the rain, was nothing shy of astonishing! You could do a series on sporting heroes?

[@romeoalfa155]

Heel veel dank voor deze prachtige video over Alex Zanardi.

[@brianmuhlingBUM]

What a great documentary and a great tribute to Alex. I will never forget seeing that horrendous crash and I thought "That is the end of a great driver," but I was wrong, he got back on the horse.

[@aoife1122]

Mind over matter... a true legend. It doesn't get more inspiring than the story of Alex Zanardi. Thanks for this.

[@Schizz_Popinov]

17:54 RIP Greg Moore

[@crusherbmx]

Zanardi's crash is at least as disturbing to watch as Greg Moore's, it's a freaking miracle he survived!

[@neoamaru]

I keep revisiting his story, and i still insist, his story would make for a wonderful oscar winning movie...thank you for putting this documentary together, i enjoyed it big time

[@SiVlog1989]

Alex Zanardi has always been one of my favourite drivers. His donuts celebrating wins in America were great to see and it was hilarious one time when he gestured to the crowd, after winning one particular race, whether they wanted him to do donuts, he tried, but stalled the engine. His time in F1 doesn't do justice to his career as a whole. I'm a grown man and I have to admit I cried not just when he had the accident that cost him his legs, I subsequently found my eyes damp when he stood up for the first time since his accident and with his subsequent Paralympic success... a real fan favourite

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

I was surprised that he didn't talk about Alex's difficulties with the brakes at Williams. He had trouble with the carbon brakes and went back and forth to the steel brakes.

[@sufferbl]

Alex Zanardi was always an inspiration for me, how not to give up, no matter what life throws at you, always seeing the good things and positive side. A true LEGEND!

[@alessandrodiamante9118]

Thank you very much, this video is a magnificent tribute to Alex Zanardi, a great sportsman but above all a great man

[@BruceMcGee]

Thank you for putting together this video. I remember the crash in 01 and have marveled at how resilient and tenacious Zanardi is. Listening to Dr. Olvey and Dr. Trammel talk about that day was just gut wrenching. Racing will always be dangerous, but I so glad how far safety has come from 2001.

[@Mikeys.Harley.Garage]

Thanks for sharing this doku. Great champion, great man, we all hope that he will recover. Forza Zanardi.

[@soundproductionandadvice]

What an amazing and humbling story. Thank you.

[@toolbox-gua]

Thank you for the documentary, an incredible man Alex Zanardi, with a well deserved recognition.

[@espenbaklid3178]

I have many favourite artists, athletes and musicians I would love to meet before I die. Zanardi has never been among these favourites, but just for his incredibly persuasive personality, I feel like adding him to that bucket list, maybe with even more motivation to meet him than any of my other favourites. My god, what an inspiration he is! Bravo!

[@reneaurora4721]

Alex almost lapped the field twice in the CART Vancouver race, was mesmerizing!!

[@TeganCantEven]

I remember being an enthusiastic young IndyCar fan and seeing Alex’s accident on the broadcast. I screamed and just immediately began crying. He was one of my favorites and I’d been fortunate enough to meet him a few times at race weekends in Detroit and MIS. His resilience is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

[@internetsguy3506]

F1 is so often to overshadow just how amazing most of the drivers that go through it are and Zanardi really is one of the more inspirational ones that really doesn't get enough credit. I remember him well and hadn't given it much notice at the time what exactly it was that he had been going through. Great video!

[@studlydudly]

Alessandro is a remarkable human being, along with Montoya he was the most exciting driver I saw in CART. His willpower and determination are an inspiration, I wish you all the best Alessandro.

[@zolimajster8313]

Thank you for this video. I loved CART series and Alex.

[@christopherrooney6737]

Thank you very much for this, Scott - it's a great tribute to a most remarkable man

[@ronaldthibodeau6340]

Forget Marvel, Alex is as real a superhero as it gets. I hope his boys appreciate that fact. I met him and Jimmy in Portland back in those hay days. Thank you so much for making this long overdue story. Grazie mille!!

[@user-wj7kf8sk5r]

wow. What an impressive story. Thanks for sharing. Alex, you are a true inspiration! Hopefully you will soon be victorious again.

[@solcharms]

My favorite driver growing up in the mid-nineties. It gives me both nostalgia and warmth seeing his story finally being appreciated for what it is. Albon also made a wonderful video on this man. Alessandro Zanardi 🇮🇹

[@skitownstreetcred]

Alex. You are incredible. Thank you for showing the resilience we all may be able to have if we just get back out there like you. God bless you, and thank you!

[@jeffjeff4477]

Zanardi was incredible to watch, the 90s and mid-early 2000s was an amazing time for Indy, F1, IMSA, LeMans and European race circuits. Miss those days Zanadri was in the top of the pack, on top of his game

[@garybrown9526]

He is an inspiration and I hope his recovery continues to be a success 🙏

[@Josh-ev6nb]

best video you've ever made. just wonderful.

[@HolyPire]

I ve seen that crash live on tv.... never seen anything like this ever before or after... miracle he survived. Brave man.

[@Chatta-Ortega]

Alex owes his life to the CART safety team. They were absolutely amazing.

[@rafaelcagliari8545]

Incredible video Scott! Thank you for producing the best content!

[@T0mmyTune]

Thank you so very much for this Video Doc! Great Work. Zanardi is a legend. His name should be synonymous with "Never Quitting!"

[@richardmesser388]

Zanardi, an amazing legend of racing, but also humanity. He never gave up, never quit, no wasnt an option. He is a lesson in life to all

[@Zach-ku6eu]

Amazing production. Thank you for bringing me such an impactful story!

[@richardonyoni8015]

What an amazing inspirational story. Alex Zanardi is a true champion!

[@piotrstepien1736]

Really great inspiration. It's great for me to look for inspiration in similar attitudes now. After such experiences with others' lives, which are much more difficult to receive and accept than everyday problems. You can definitely gain more empathy and resilience.

[@karl-unoisaksson4000]

Hey Scott!!! Thank you, THANK YOU for this docu... Love from Sweden 💖 Kalle Isak

[@michaelosullivan1362]

Alex is an absolute legend. I lost both my legs also and it was Alex’s story that helped me stay positive and keep fighting. Get well Alex I hope we see you racing again someday.

[@chris_3636]

A true inspiration and tenacious competitor. I think it's fair to say that he deserves some better luck. I hope he's able to make a good recovery.

[@Roguescienceguy]

You can't make them more Italian as Alessandro Zanardi. Passion for racing and cycling. I genuinely teared up hearing his story. Thanks driver61

[@VictorDeveze]

I remember watching him race in CART, how I miss those days

[@ramriley5113]

Living proof that anything is possible if you set your mind to it

[@charlesdarwin7253]

...and you have some money to throw at it. Not to take away from his accomplishments; even Senna came from wealth. There are very few rags to riches stories in championship racing.

[@samuelgarrod8327]

With all due respect, that's nonsense. I set my mind to becoming F1 world champion but I haven't got the trophy yet and I'm retired.

[@MrFatdaz]

Great video, what a human being Alex is! Never give up ❤

[@Davidb67]

Long time F1 fan and remember watching his early F1 career, sad to say I didn’t manage to follow his racing in CART series nor touring cars. But have followed his cycling. Incredible athlete. Didn’t know about the truck accident nor the fire at his house. Alex just dusts himself off and gets going. Found a Fabulous podcast interview with him that was from about 2019 I think, all the shenanigans with his F1 drives being* cancelled, cut short, never getting going. What a truly remarkable and inspirational man.

[@lpcoolee]

Wow, what a champ! Winners aren’t those who don’t fail, but rather those who that never give up! You’re a real winner Alex!

[@bazzingabomb]

What an amazing man an inspiration to us all, his life needs to be in a Hollywood movie. Wishing him a full recovery never give up Alex.

[@SaltyFrosticles]

Zanardi is a legend. Keep healing champ 🏆 💪

[@kimberlymacandog7616]

WOW!!! That is the only MAGICAL word I can think of. What an AMAZING HUMAN!!!

[@cstewart913]

Unbelievable person, story, and presentation!

[@mueesli4745]

I have always admired the passion that Alex had during his later racing carreer and I was astonished about the fact that someone with this massive handicap was able to compete with top level racing drivers head to head. If there is any story that really shouts at you to never give up, it is his. I could not respect anyone else more than him!

[@pauldaulby1062]

Alex showed such inner strength and determination and belief in himself. A true sportsman in every sense. Being a force to be able to overcome adversity. And come back even stronger to compete at the top of the different sports that he competed in.

[@ivan-ywr]

Alex is incredibly inspirational person. Hope to see him competing one day again.

[@Poult100]

What an amazing and continuing story! Thank you for keeping us up to date with this living legend, showing is all, we should never give up!

[@jimadkins4772]

Great video

[@allenzillmer1917]

This brings back so many memories of Alex. He was my hero then, he’s my hero now.

[@lobosalles]

Damn, hats of for Zanardi. What a story. I feel like Sh*** now when complaining about things that aren't really that serious. What an inspiration. Hope he can recover well. Thanks for sharing his story. Truly remarkable.

[@ianyoung9837]

An excellent documentary about a remarkable man, thank you.

[@GTMistral]

As much as Zanardi overcame struggles in his life and have HUGE respect for the guy, this crash in particular, among very few other crashes in history, this makes me very, very uncomfortable every time I simply think about it. Can't push myself to rewatch it. Alessandro Zanardi is a symbol of perseverance. Never give up!

[@hogepief]

What a great video on this man. His resilience is amazing and seems like such a humble guy, having really fought for his achievements. You told the story very well, I was genuinely moved at the end of it. Thank you.

[@spunkbubble1]

In a world full of hyperbolic language, where “legend” “icon” and “hero” get thrown around often spuriously, Mr Zanardi is the true embodiment of them. Never give up, never shy away from a challenge, don’t be afraid to be afraid and you can overcome anything. A fighter, a winner and an inspiration.

[@daleoufc89]

What a beautiful story, thanks for sharing!

[@karl-unoisaksson4000]

Thanx sooo much for sharing 🙏 Sxxxt, you gave me a GREAT Docu, Im soooooo greatful!!! Well, you show your face - your Scott, right? This is one of the stories I as a fan lived with - and this docu is wonderful... I knew him briethley, you Scott probably has about 300% more insight... I raced before he came in Formula Vee, so I take your word as Gospel!!! And to the Whienies and Trolls out there: A placed Commercial in the middle of the docu??? Thats a small price to pay for watching a helluva RacingDocu... Thanx for sharing 🙏 Love from Sweden 💖

[@mcbeaulieu]

My first contribution to a video of yours. Thanks for using my capture of the Against All Odds documentary 🙏

[@schlittytube]

Alex' years in CART is what made me a motorsports fan.

[@marv6973]

Have been a fan of Alex since F3000 in the Il Barone Rampante team. He is a true legend. His determination in all things in life should be an inspiration to all. His hand cycle accident was the cruelest blow. I wish he and his family get to enjoy life again. Forze Alex.

[@chrisdobson4597]

I only started watching F1 last year so these historical videos are great . Thanks !