INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull, Bruce Canepa, Chip Ganassi and Max Papis spoke at a ceremony Friday morning dedicating WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s famous corkscrew after the late Alex Zanardi. (Photo courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing)

Courtesy of CGR Media

MONTEREY, Calif. _ It was a move so bold that nobody could believe their lyin’ eyes _ the moment Alex Zanardi rolled through the Corkscrew complex at Laguna Seca Raceway and completed one of the most iconic passes in modern motorsports history.

Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing on Sept. 6, 1996 with the Championship Auto Racing Teams title on the line, Zanardi was dicing with Bryan Herta’s No. 28 Shell Team Rahal Reynard/Mercedes-Benz on the final lap. As they approached the Corkscrew _ a brutally steep left-right downhill section of pavement _ Herta held the inside line and appeared to have the corner covered.

Depending on which version of the story Alex might have told over the years, he braked extremely late and went around the outside. His momentum carried him alongside Herta into the left-hander, the two cars nearly side-by-side, before Zanardi cut across Herta as the track fell away.

Zanardi somehow kept his No. 4 Target Reynard/Honda under control through the right-hand portion of the Corkscrew and completed the race-winning move at a spot on-track where there was barely a conventional passing opportunity. Zanardi used incredible braking, car control and confidence…and Herta had to concede as his rival emerged in the lead.

“It was quintessential Alex, making the impossible a possibility,” said Mike Hull, longtime team manager at Chip Ganassi Racing.

The pass was instantly iconic. The Ganassi crew erupted in celebration, and onboard footage showed Zanardi throwing his hands up in disbelief.

The breathtaking pass gave Zanardi the race victory while teammate and native Californian Jimmy Vasser, who finished third, secured the first championship in Chip Ganassi Racing history. That day kicked off a run of four consecutive titles for CGR _ a stretch that, 30 years later, has grown into an NTT IndyCar Series-record 18 championships.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of CGR’s first championship and Zanardi’s unbelievable bravery, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s management honored the two-time CART series champion on Friday by dedicating the Corkscrew to the popular Italian. Zanardi died on May 1, 2026 at the age of 59 at his home in Padua, Italy.

The dedication ceremony featured Zanardi’s car from that day and a plaque that will stand in the Corkscrew honoring “The Pass.” It is engraved with one of Zanardi’s many mottos: “Courage Changes Everything.”

“There were three chassis manufacturers that could have won the championship that day _ Reynard, Lola and Penske,” team-owner Chip Ganassi said. “At the end of the day, Jimmy Vasser won the championship. But you know, it was that damn Alex Zanardi that just stole the show from everybody.

“He stole the show, and along with stealing the show in 1996, that was our first championship. How many times Vasser and he went on tour afterward, and Vasser was so mad. He said, ‘All I wanted to talk about was it was my first championship. And it was our team’s first championship.’ And it was Alex Zanardi. He stole the show, and he stole my heart, and he stole a lot of people’s hearts that day, and it was an iconic moment. One of the truly iconic moments in sports.

“There are iconic moments in sports and that Alex Zanardi, boy, he sure gave us auto racing people one of those that day here in 1996.”

The legend of “The Pass” has grown during the three decades since Zanardi was bold enough not only to try it, but also successfully pull it off.

Those in attendance that day weren’t sure what had happened because the Corkscrew’s changing elevation blocked their view. They only saw Zanardi emerge from the turn ahead of Herta and needed multiple replays on the track’s video screen to understand what had occurred.

But as the years passed, the story of how “The Pass” came to be morphed into legend, thanks in large part to Zanardi’s effusive and colorful storytelling.

“I mean, it was unbelievable, especially when you heard the version Alex told of what was going through his mind,” said Juan Pablo Montoya, the native Colombian who replaced Zanardi in the car three years later and completed the first of three four-peat championship runs for CGR. Vasser won the first title, Zanardi won the next two, followed by Montoya.

“Today he would have to give the place (position) back for exceeding track limits,” JPM noted.

Montoya is correct. As the years passed, INDYCAR’s rules were tweaked and the way Zanardi left the racing line to complete the pass would no longer be permitted. It was within the rules then, though, and Zanardi had multiple versions of how long he needed to set himself up for the move.

Vasser, who could not be present at Laguna Seca for the Zanardi dedication, forwarded his memories to be shared during the ceremony.

“Alex was the absolute best teammate any driver could ever have,” Vasser said. “He was genuinely happy for me when I won or did well, and it was the same for me when he won, which, by the way, was way more than me.

“I truly believe in those early years of Target sponsorship at Chip Ganassi Racing the culture that developed across the teams set the foundation for the amazing dynasty it has become. But, by the way, I still think Alex’s foot slipped off the brake pedal. Just kidding. It has been a long time coming for this honor to be bestowed on Alex. He was truly one-of-one. I loved him.

“The story of ‘The Pass’ grew with every outing. First, it was the last lap, trying to figure out how he could get around Herta. Then, the next time, it grew to five laps, and he was strategizing where and when. Then that grew to 10 laps. Then the last story he told was that he could see Bryan’s eyes looking at him when he made the pass. Bryan wore a dark-tinted helmet lens, and I decided to call him out on his bullshit as the story kept growing. Alex just smiled and said, ‘You know me, Jimmy.’^”

Scott Dixon, the native of New Zealand who later joined CGR and was part of the organization’s second four-peat of championships, also acknowledged how the lore of “The Pass” has grown.

“It was epic,” said Dixon, now a six-time series champion. “I think everybody around the world was like, ‘How did he do that?’ And I’m sure even when he came out the other side he was like, ‘How did I pull that off as well?’ But, you know, I think his version of it, on how he had set it up for laps and he could see Bryan’s eyes through his tinted visor…Zanardi’s stories were the best stories. I think his book really tells the story of how he saw it in his own mind, which might be very different from many other people.

“The sad thing is, a few years later, that pass wouldn’t even have been possible. It would have been reversed, or, you know, track limits and all this kind of crazy stuff that we have now. But that’s when racing was racing. It was so cool to see somebody have the courage and craziness to pull that off. You just won’t see that stuff these days.”

“Mad” Max Papis, a fellow-Italian who grew up with Zanardi, spoke Friday morning with Zanardi’s wife, Daniela, and son, Niccolo, about the Corkscrew dedication and passed along a message of appreciation from the family.

“They told me to tell you guys they are extremely grateful,” Papis said. ”They would have never expected something like this, and unfortunately, they are not in the spirit yet to be able to share these moments. They are extremely grateful for the fact that you guys even remembered him.”

Truth is, Zanardi was such a larger-than-life figure that he will never be forgotten.

DHL and Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) have partnered to honor the legacy of the late Alex Zanardi with a special livery on the No. 10 Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The car will carry the iconic CGR lightning bolt, made famous by Zanardi and CGR’s other legends during its four consecutive championships from 1996-99. Photo courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing

Five-time/reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou is honoring the legacy of the late Alex Zanardi via a special livery on the No. 10 DHL Honda during this weekend’s season-finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The No. 10 is sporting the iconic Chip Ganassi Racing Lightning Bolt paint scheme made famous by Zanardi and the organization’s cast of INDYCAR legends during its four consecutive championships from 1996-99. Sunday’s race on Sunday, Sept. 6, will coincide with the 30th anniversary of “The Pass,” the legendary move Zanardi made at the Corkscrew on the last lap to win the final race of the year and clinch CART’s Rookie of the Year award.

The weekend also will mark the 30th anniversary of CGR’s first championship won by Jimmy Vasser, Zanardi’s teammate. The feat also marked Honda’s first INDYCAR championship.

“I’m very excited for the weekend,” said Palou, a 29-year-old native of Spain who clinched his latest title at The Milwaukee Mile last Sunday. “My favorite racetrack of the year, repping that beautiful livery in honor of Alex Zanardi.”

Indeed, Zanardi has emerged as one of the most inspiring athletes in history. Zanardi competed for Chip Ganassi Racing from 1996-98, winning two championships and 15 races with the organization.

However, Zanardi’s life took a tragic turn on Sept. 15, 2001, when both legs were amputated following a horrific crash during CART’s American Memorial 500 at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (also known as the Lausitzring) in Klettwitz, Germany. Zanardi was leading the race late that fateful day. Exiting pit lane after a stop, he lost control of his car and spun onto the track. Canadian Alex Tagliani slammed into Zanardi’s car at-speed, cutting the chassis in half.

Doctors saved his life after his heart stopped multiple times at the track. Once stabilized, Zanardi refused to give up on himself, designing his own prosthetic legs. Zanardi’s inspiring return to motorsports competition was highlighted by winning four World Touring Car Championship races and competing in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance classic. He also became a world-class cyclist, winning four Paralympic gold medals and 12 Para-cycling World Championships. Zanardi died on May 1, 2026 at his home in Padua, Italy, at age 59.

Palou, meanwhile, is near the top of the INDYCAR record book in multiple categories. His Laguna Seca record might be his crown jewel. Palou has produced one of the most dominant five-race stretches at a single track, winning three races and never finishing off the podium. One more victory would tie Bobby Rahal’s all-time mark, and leading 12 more laps would give Palou the record at the venue. With three career poles and five podiums at Laguna Seca, he can tie the track records with one more of each.

“I’m so excited to get the Lightning Bolt back on our car. We’re racing in memory of Alex Zanardi,” Palou said. “We’re racing at Laguna, his place, his corner. And on top of that, it’s the 30th anniversary of CGR’s and Honda’s first IndyCar championship. So, we’re putting everything together for the fans, for ourselves as well. And hopefully it’s a great race for the No. 10 DHL car.”