Alex Zanardi Dies at 59

Alex Zanardi, the Italian racing driver who won championships in CART and Paralympic gold medals in paracycling after losing both legs in a 2001 crash, has died at age 59. His family announced the death on Saturday, stating that Zanardi passed away peacefully the previous evening, May 1, surrounded by loved ones.

The announcement came via a statement on the social media pages of Obiettivo3, a foundation Zanardi supported. "It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, May 1," the statement read. "Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his loved ones. The family sincerely thanks all those who are expressing their support during this time and asks for respect for their grief and privacy during this time of mourning." Details on funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Born in Bologna, Zanardi entered Formula One in 1991, competing sporadically through 1999 for teams including Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams. His greatest successes came in the CART series in the United States, where he secured back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.