INDYCAR: Zanardi to defend Paralympic gold on 15th anniversary of crash

Alex Zanardi will attempt to repeat his 2012 Paralympic success on the 15th anniversary of the CART crash that almost claimed his life.

Zanardi won two gold medals and a silver in handcycling at the 2012 Paralympics in London (ABOVE). The now-49-year-old will attempt to defend his wins in the H4 division's time trial and road race in Rio next week, and is also entered in the mixed team relay. His three events take place on September 14, 15 and 16; the Italian's second day of competition falling exactly 15 years after the two-time CART champion lost both his legs at the Lausitzring on September 15, 2001.

Coincidentally, the Rio handbike races will follow London's example in being held at a venue with ties to motorsport. Zanardi won his 2012 medals at Brands Hatch, while the Rio Games are built around the site of the track at Jacarepaguá, where Zanardi achieved a best result of second after a late duel with Greg Moore in 1998. Zanardi told rio2016.com that he believes the motorsport connection will be a good omen.

"I love Rio, I use to come over in the late 90s for the IndyCar race, which I never won," he said. "It was the same with Brands Hatch: it was a circuit I always loved, performed really well on, but never enjoyed the pleasure of winning a race there on four wheels. I had to go back with my handcycle to correct it. I hope it will be the same case in Rio, as the Olympic Village will be close to the area where they used to have the oval circuit on which I competed with my IndyCar."