INSPIRATIONAL RETURN Zanardi gets back behind wheel

Both of his legs were amputated after a violent crash 11/2 years ago.
KLETTWITZ, Germany (AP) -- Just as he used to week after week, Alex Zanardi donned his maroon-and-white uniform and settled into a race car for some practice laps at nearly 200 mph.
But these spins around the track Friday were quite different, of course. They were the most meaningful of his life.
That's because they came at EuroSpeedway, where Zanardi crashed during a CART race 11/2 years ago, an accident so violent that his legs had to be amputated.
What was it like to be back behind a steering wheel on that track?
"It felt fantastic," the Italian said. "When I got into the car, it felt just like yesterday. But this was really a pit stop that lasted a year and a half."
Car left pit road
On Sept. 15, 2001, Zanardi was leading late in the race when his car left pit road. As he pulled out, he appeared to accelerate too early and lose control as he swerved across a grassy area. His car was slammed by another, scattering debris along the track.
The 36-year-old Zanardi has no memory of the crash.
"I was depressed at times after the accident, but I never stayed that way," he said. "I know that I don't have my legs, and that's what I have to live with. I have to deal with this situation and work really hard to improve my life quality."
The two-time CART champion drove 10 laps Friday in preparation for Sunday, when he plans to "finish" that 2001 race by driving the 13 laps that he didn't get to complete.
The highlight Friday in front of a few hundred fans was a best lap of 192 mph in a modified Mi-Jack Conquest Racing car.
"The main feeling for me is an intense sense of pride because I know how hard it has been," Zanardi said. "It may look kind of easy, you see me smiling, cheery, waving to the fans. But it hasn't always been like that."
In his new car, the clutch and throttle are controlled by hand. He brakes with his artificial right leg, which is fitted to a special pedal.
"I've never been so nervous watching 10 practice laps," CART spokesman Erik Mauk said.
Zanardi was ready to get back into a car after such a long layoff. Even though a return to the CART series is impossible, Zanardi is thinking about "entering a competition which is a little bit softer in terms of commitment."
He even spoke to Mario Andretti about fulfilling a wish of driving in the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.
"His answer was, 'I am always up to a good challenge.' I'm sure I wouldn't have to convince him to go. It would be great to do something like this," Zanardi said.
Used to raise money
The publicity his recovery generates is being used to raise money for the charitable Alex Zanardi Foundation. He recently donated $85,000 to a French foundation for children's aid.
CART reportedly is paying him about $50,000 for this weekend, which he hopes will help boost his foundation's year-end balance to $200,000. He said it would go to another children's charity.