IndyCar legends unite to launch Zanardi Corkscrew era at Laguna Seca

It was a fitting start to the Zanardi Corkscrew era at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Thirty years ago at Turn 8, which is better known as the Corkscrew – named for its curling and winding pathway that plunges down the hill – Alex Zanardi executed “The Pass” on Bryan Herta to earn the win at the 1996 CART IndyCar Series season finale. On its 30th anniversary, underscored by Zanardi’s death in May, the renowned corner was renamed in the Italian’s honor during a dedication ceremony on Friday.

Papis (far right) and company at the renaming of the Zanardi Corkscrew. Michael Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images

“Alex and I have been brothers since we were 12 years old,” said Max Papis, who grew up with Zanardi and raced against his friend in many series, including IndyCar. “He has been crucial part of my life. I've been a crucial part of his life. We've been there for each other in the good and the bad moment. And on behalf of his family, on behalf of [widow] Daniela and [son] Niccolo, they told me to tell you guys they are extremely grateful. They would have never expected something like this, and unfortunately, they are not in the spirit yet to be able to share this kind of moments. But they are absolutely grateful of the fact that you guys even remembered him.

“If Alex would be here, I'm sure he would say this to us, ‘Guys, look at what the son of a plumber did; look how far I came. I would have never believed that this would have been possible.’ So he was able to turn a disability in a tremendous ability of giving courage to people; he gave me courage. So I just pray and hope that all of you guys one day in your life will meet a true friend like he was for me.”

And it’s here where fate and friendship are intertwined with what happened next.

Shortly after the dedication was complete, the first IndyCar session of the event took place with historic cars spanning 100 years of machinery and, by pure chance, the first IndyCar driver to navigate the Zanardi Corkscrew was Zanardi’s former teammate Tony Kanaan.

First through the Zanard Corkscrew: Tony Kanaan in Gil de Ferran's 2001 Reynard-Honda. Perry Nelson/Lumen via Getty Images

Partners at Mo Nunn Racing in 2001, Kanaan and Zanardi were reunited after the Italian played an important role in the Brazilian’s early career. Adding to the special moment, Kanaan was turning his first laps in his late friend and mentor Gil de Ferran’s 2001 Reynard-Honda CART car.

If one IndyCar driver was going to be the first through the Zanardi Corkscrew, Kanaan was the perfect candidate.

“The day couldn’t become more special with Gil and Alex,” the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner told RACER. “They were both incredibly close to me. Both helped me. Alex really helped me a lot in Italy early in my career and then we got to race together in CART. And Gil, he was like a big brother to me and helped me so much in my career, too. This means a lot to everybody with what Laguna Seca naming the Corkscrew after Alex.”

Zanardi was invited to the 2013 Indy 500 by former team owner Chip Ganassi, who presented him with one of the Reynard-Hondas they used to win two CART championships. After losing most of both legs in a horrifying 2001 crash, Zanardi returned to active competition with hand-control race cars and in the Paralympics, where he won multiple gold medals in paracycling.

Fresh from his wins at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Zanardi brought his gold medals to the Indy 500 which became part of Kanaan’s lore in winning the world’s biggest motor race.

“He came to Indy that year and let me rub his gold medal for good luck and then I went and won the Indy 500, so come on,” Kanaan said. “It’s funny to think how these things happen. It’s not a coincidence that I got to drive Gil’s car for the very first time in my life, and I just so happened to be the guy who gets to go first through the Zanardi Corkscrew. That cannot seriously be a coincidence.”