Come On Alex!

What we as fans would give to go back, prevent the split and allow guys like Greg Moore and Alex Zanardi run the Indianapolis 500? Sadly, we can't go back and Greg is no longer with us but there is some hope for Zanardi. Though he lost his legs in Germany back in September 2001, that did not keep Zanardi from racing. Two years later he returned to EuroSpeedway Lausitz and completed the thirteen laps his had left. These weren't parade laps, he gave it his all and his fastest of the thirteen laps would have put him fifth on the grid for that race in 2003.

Thanks to hand controls, Zanardi would go on and race in the World Touring Car Championship for BMW from 2005-2009. Over that time, he won four races and scored ten podiums. In 2006 the BMW Sauber Formula One team gave him a test at the Valencia Circuit. Since leaving the WTCC, Zanardi has been working on hand cycling and will be competing in the Paralympics which opened today.

In an Autosport article, Zanardi came out saying he would like to return to racing on a top level, whether it be in the DTM or the Indianapolis 500. The DTM ride very well could be lined up with BMW since they rejoined the series this year. As for Indianapolis, Zanardi came up with the hypothetical that if Morris Nunn were to come to him with a ride he would consider it. Mo Nunn has been out of American Open-Wheel Racing for a while now, but the man Zanardi won his CART titles with, Chip Ganassi isn't going anywhere.

Would he give Zanardi a ride? Only one way to find out but as race fans we should be encouraging someone to give Alex Zanardi the opportunity. Some think Zanardi shouldn't risk anymore but he would not be the first to come back from a serious accident. Davey Hamilton returned after his terrible accident. Kenny Bräck returned after his near fatal accident. Gary Bettenhausen had his left arm paralyzed in an accident in 1974 and continued racing until the early 1990s. Those who have followed Zanardi all this time know his wife may not approve, but Indianapolis is the last frontier for Zanardi to cover. He won in the heyday of CART, he raced in Formula One, won in Touring Cars. Indianapolis is the last thing on the list.

And the support behind Zanardi would be like never before. From Vasser to Franchitti, Kanaan to Papis, everyone would back Zanardi and help him where he needed it. And what fan would not like to see Zanardi get his shot at Indianapolis? It would definitely turn a few heads, not just in the United States but around the world. Come on Alex! Come run Indianapolis!