Pretty sure that in current F1 he would have been disqualified or something else stupid, not sure how indycar would look at this nowadays. Great driver and move.
You were lucky to be there that day, one piece of history in racing. And as italian i'm still proud of this amazing man, that today has won a new gold medal in cycling at the paralympics games, at 49!!!
I've watched a lot of racing since I've been a little kid. F1, ALMS, LeMans, IndyCar. And I don't remember watching a series that was more exciting and with such awesome quality drivers and cars as CART in the late 90s and early 2000s. Just look at the guys who raced and you'll know it was awesome. CART in those days was almost like an alternative to F1
it certainly was a very good alternative. I watched it then but cannot watch it anymore. the cars are hideous and I am not sure about the talent either.
+Aj85234480 IndyCar is the best open-wheel racing series. Watch a few races and you'll be more entertained by that than watching an entire season of F1.
merboberbo well thanks to Tony George’s crap in the mid 90s INDYCAR nose dived and tried to make it NASCAR like. Well thank God INDYCAR is getting some interest back especially this year.
CART was the best, i stopped going to these races when IRL took over. As someone commented, CART was on a level with F1. i hope Alex Zanardi is doing well, he has had some very tough breaks.
I dont understand why people are saying this was an illegal pass. If I'm not mistaken, there wasn't any rules against doing what he did at the time. The rules of modern F1 don't apply to CART in 1996.
Brilliant overtake in my view, on a circuit that like many, only offer limited overtaking for such high performance cars in modern racing. As it was such high risk, (& he got away with it, giving the fans what we want) I'd encourage this kind of thing. Instead of the bland type of racing we often get these days. Either that, or make the tracks better for overtaking 'legitimately.'
It's still legal today. He was offtrack only after he overtakes him, not during the overtake or something. And he left enough room to be overtaked and there was no unsafe return on track too. It was brilliant, legal 30 years ago and perfectly legal today. Brian Herta should do exactly what Prost did on Senna at 89. He should close the door and bang. Because clearly the gap was not there and Zanardi was too optmistic. But for our luck, he didnt do it and the overtake was amazing!
Those people have probably become too used to racing with huge runoff area's, artificial "trackside limits" and the arbitrary penalty system that needed to be invented for that. When there is grass, gravel or in this case sand next to the racing track, using it is completely at your own risk.
@@P1nkR Don´t think it has anything to do with that. It´s just that there are track limits and running off, even after passing the car, just seems weird. Imagine how many unclean overtakes you could do in situations where you can only gain but not lose anything. If this was the norm, racing would be dead.
@Guodlca are you seriously comparing the run off area of T1 in monza to that small turn in Laguna? wew. Also in that situation it would just be considered corner cutting, driving straight as if the turn didn't exist
I saw the original broadcast of this race... it's been over a decade and it still stands as one of the finest moments of auto-racing badassery I've ever seen.
You know, I became an IRL fan since the split because I love oval racing when it comes to American Open Wheel... But let me tell you, this gives me goosebumps everytime I watch it, Alex Zanardi IS a superb driver/athlete and person, I have lots of respect for this man. What a class act!
I was working in Parker Johnstone's Corp tent that day. Free food and drink of course, Woot-WOOT ! Watched on a few tv monitors. When "the pass" occurred, everyone in the tent , went outside their minds !
He had Greg Moore, Dale Sr. and Dan Wheldon at least riding inside the car guiding him when he made that move. The Racing Gods kept him alive and in contention.
It's sad what 5 years into the future had in store for him but it's amazing he's alive and well today and seems very very happy and at peace. What an amazing man!!!
The number of people watching Indycar has not decreased, but the number of people willing to watch it LIVE has...there are lots of factors for this, fuel is more expensive, so going THERE is more expensive. TV quality was horrible back them, but now you can have a super high quality image with full surround sound in the comfort of your home. Safety standards in the tracks also reduced the maximum capacity and increased ticket prices...I could go on and on...
Great move, but should not have been allowed to count. Not only were all four wheels off the course when passing, he effectively straight-lined the corkscrew. Herta maintained the racing line - did not straight-line the turn - and thus should've been awarded the win. Ganassi wouldn't even have protested this was so obvious.
+f montes Totally agree with you, although it was bold he passes the line with all four wheels and was effectively of the track..but still a great moment in racing history!
+f montes i think the new rules "keep all four wheels on the racing line" were made because there is no gras, sand or whatever next to the track nowadays. so shortcutting would be easy. in the case of zanardi it is ok to me because he could have lost the car or atleast a lot of time --> i am happy with that "legal pass"
The pass was initiated and completed with all four wheels on the circuit; however, he went four off in the next corner. When Zanardi went off course, he was already in the lead. Since there was no lead change during the off, the pass should count. I believe any car can go off circuit and as long as there is no position change, there is nothing illegal about it.
I'm not a religious man but then again I tend to not have any "heroes" either. I guess today it's time to start praying, for our legend and hero Alex Zanardi.
I remember watching the race. When I saw Zinardi pull that off, I about flipped the couch in amazement. The move that defined his career, and probably one of the best passes in the history of auto racing
@@Antros23 Its called creating your own racing line. Its what happens when a hungry, aggressive driver is breathing down the neck of a less hungry and less aggressive leader on the final lap.
I was there that day. This race was always around or on my Birthday which is Sep. 10th. I was 6 years old and remember it like it was yesterday. It is one of my favorite Childhood memories.
@@mattsuper1366 No. In modern F1 it would not be legal. You can't say "he got off track only after passing Herta". Man, he got off track because he brake too late when he was BEHIND Herta. He did not complete the pass, he overtake Herta BECAUSE he was too fast to make the first corner.
CART in the 1990s was pretty awesome, it only failed due to politics. This should be the model for fixing F1, just give it a few minor tweaks and you'd be good to go. I'd say it should also be the model for fixing IndyCar but that is A: obvious and B: impossible, the politics haven't changed and probably never will.
crusherbmx Indy is going back in the CART direction. They used the design of CART for their safer car. They also brought back Portland. Of course the on going joke about bringing back Laguna Seca.
Luckily, things have already changed. The Indycar season this year (2021) is one of the best ever. I was a fan of Indycar/CART/Champcar in the 90s. And if you take your time and watch some of those old races (even the better ones) you'll see what a really great time we have as fans of Indycar racing today.
Le Ann Lucsa - I too was there - right at the cork screw! right under a tree there walking back to the pits - turned around, and (what he video doesn't show is that he got a bit air born going over the rumble strip). I could not believe it. I drove up from Santa Barbara for the day. Expected a good show, but not that! Laguna Seca is a really awesome track. And yes, the officials should have called that an off track excursion. That whole season was awesome.
I happened to be there that day. I was 10 years old, Shaquille O'Neal Magic jersey, worst sunburn of my life. I actually didn't fully understand what had even happened on that day and that this one would go down as legendary! The thing I actually remember the most was one of the cars caught on fire right in front of us. It was a blue color if my memory serves me right. What a crazy day.
Wow that was my times of IndyCar. And if it is your first whatever it is then it stays with you forever and it will always be your reference point. That's why to me todays indycar are like toys of spec series. They are so compact and rapid like karting. And 90ties that cars looked heavy, fast serious, majestic and beautifully shaped. And they were ultra characteristics like Herta's Shell car or Pennzoil of Gil de Ferran or Valvolive of Robby Gordon or Michael Andretti's Texaco Havoline or Targets of Alex and Jimmy. So you see this was my times and nostalgia kicks in. Of course I don't mind younger generation appreciates todays IndyCars because it is their times. They'll feel nostalia about it some time in a future :)
Ask yourself the following question: Would Zanardi have been able to overtake Herta if he had entered the corkscrew slowly enough to avoid putting all 4 wheels off the track? If the answer is "no", then Zanardi gained an advantage by going off the track and this should've been an illegal overtake.
I agree, yet I have no knowledge of the CART regulations concerning a situation as such. The overtaking itself was clean albeit clearly Zanardi was aware he couldn't keep the car on the track .....
@@peggygeren4169 So the tarmac slice beyond the curb was still to be considered "track" ...... Herta didn't complain as far as I know, so no matter if Zanardi was cheating or simply smartly playing with the regulations.
@@INDIGOBLUE555Probably the asphalt strip inside was added to prevent dust and stones being thrown onto the track when cars put their inside wheels over the curbs. They failed to adapt the rules to match that intent. It was probably Zanardi's last chance to pass, and after the "save" he made a few laps earlier when he went all the way onto the dirt, downhill at very high speed, Alex probably thought he could do anything with the car. He tried it and it worked & turned out to be technically legal. The pass itself was done so quickly and decisively with Zanardi making his intention clear that Herta had to let him go past, so Z was only putting himself at risk. Alex was slower on corner exit and I think Bryan could have repassed if he hadn't already decided that it was illegal. You can tell that initially he loomed right up on the tail at the bottom of the corkscrew and then seemed to relax all the way to the finish. Rahal team may not have officially lodged a protest, but I bet something was said initially. I feel sorry for him because he was leading the race on his own speed for once, when so many times his team would try some fuel-saving strategy that ended up hurting him by the end.
Alex Zanardi was in his prime then. Great team he drove for too. Great car. Chip Ganassi and his team were one of the top and best teams out there in this racing category. So much talent. Then there were some other great drivers and teams out there too numerous to mention. Good times back then.
I remember that. What a great era for CART, about 1980-2000. I miss personalities like Zanardi, Herta, Andretti, De Ferran, etc. I lived in Pittsburgh at the time and my father worked for PPG when it was then called the PPG cup in terms of the championship trophy. Very cool.
Track limits anyone? I hate this bullshit too about scrutinizing every passing maneuver, but that was definitely gaining an advantage with all 4 wheels off track.... he braked later than he knew he could, and used an area that is not the racing surface to keep his position.
Right, but the problem is he cost the other driver to lose time. Not only did the other driver have to back out to avoid a collision, he almost hit him again as Z reenetered the track. Clear advantage on a poor overtake
Different times,... The shit Prost and Senna pulled back in the day at Suzuka wouldn't fly these days neather. Schumacher tried those old school tricks ( tho very dirty and poorly exicuted) and lost all his points. Rightly so. But different times different rules.
Great period no doubt, the quality drivers, teams, and solid sponsors, all good. Although I've not been to Laguna Seca for IndyCar, I traveled to many IndyCar races around the country as a fan. Also, in my opinion the heyday of CanAm racing, simultaneous with Indy Champ cars, and then (a fave memory for me) was USAC Stock cars, Al and Bobby Unser, Don White, Roger McClusky, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, AJ Foyt, on everything from pavement, dirt, to road courses. Great time for sure, a lot of the impact was simply being from Indianapolis, with so much incredible racing all around (Fairgrounds mile dirt, Indianapolis Raceway Park's oval, and road course, Speedrome 1/4 mile paved, and of course IMS.) Incredible memories in addition to 8mm film (w/sound) documenting a variety of them.
Agreed, but the Indycar race this weekend, 2019, should be pretty darn good, and is CART having won that fight. I mean the IRL is dead, Tony George is nowhere, and Indycar is again the best drivers from all over the world driving road, street and oval courses.
I saw this in person while standing at the bottom of the corkscrew for these amazing tight final laps and I was initially confused as to what had happened before I realized we had witnessed one of the most exciting moments in motorsports.
I actually watched this live in '96, and it still gets me to this day. That was a gutsy piece of racing, and I became an instant fan of Zanardi right then and there, before he went on to win consecutive championships in the following years. He was always brash, sometimes flaunting the rules, but always so much fun to watch, Mister Donut. Here, he was perfectly within the bounds of the then-current rules... Alex went off the track at the NEXT corner, so he technically completed the pass legally. Hell, even F1 rules don't care if you go off at a corner (once) if you don't gain a position or a lasting advantage from it. But they will penalize you if you do it more than once in a race. Either way, the move was banned after, but it was a brilliant thing to watch back in the day.
Cart racing or IndyCar in the 1990s. One of the best American racing categories ever surely ? Ahh what a flashback. Great drivers and teams. Great racing. Well I tell you I really miss it for sure anyway.......
"...an area you would not normally pass" Ya no shit? Because it's dangerous and he didn't pass him on the race track - he went flying off it and then took the position. This is why the F1 rule of giving the place back is crucial and would have been serving a purpose in this scenario.
I was waiting for the microphone graphic to pop up in the middle of the screen and hear some person screaming vulgarities and threatening reporting. Man this video is triggering from my rookie days.
CART was simple great. Great racing on very cool racetracks. I loved it and despite having the better drivers F1 wasn't as exciting very often back then.
Mike Hull (Ganassi Racing Managing Director) talks about Alex practicing this move on this week's Marshall Pruett Podcast (Episode 204). Alex would practice running off-line in overtaking zones (the hairpin, turn 5 and the corkscrew) at the end of his practice runs to see what grip there would be if he tried this. He'd go hard on the brakes, let off, then back on hard. I've never noticed it before but you can see where he gets on the brakes for the second time at around 4:41 when his brakes lock up. Mike also noted that Alex overcooked it a little. Even Alex admitted that he carried a bit too much speed. Still one of the best overtakes of all time.
Que geração sensacional. Zanardi, vasser, Paul Tracy, al unser Jr.... As pinturas clássicas da chip ganassi e penske ... Que época! vou até jogar carta world series novamente !
That pass is full of gusto, the view on tv doesn't accurately portray the difficulty of that particular section of track on Laguna Seca. Absolutely brilliant.
A last word on Alex Zanardi’s illegal pass. For real racers like Bryan Herta, Bobby Rahal and Rahal Racing, their correct decision NOT to protest the track shortening pass, says it’s less about written rules ( Indycar vs Formula 1 ) and more about sport. TK
I was lucky to watch that live as a turn Marshall. Turn 9 I believe. Andretti got his divorce finalized that weekend. Working blue flag that weekend. Best pass ever!!!
the question is not if it was legal or not. The question is it was done on a completely blind braking ( when you brake at corckscrew you do it not being able to see the turn itself ) in a place that allows no room for mistake and it was done with the ability of a balance cyrcus performer where noone else would have ever tought it was possible to pass like that. This basically sums up to me the pure essence of motorracing. plus it may be not legal by today standards but the manouver wasn't penalized back than so IT WAS FUCKIN LEGAL! you can stop the fuss now
I remember watching this race and I was pissed off then and now watching it for the first since, I'm just as pissed off! It was a 'Kamikaze' move then and is now again, after watching the video. He made a risky move [blind entry] and got lucky. Make a move like that in F1 and he would be looking for a new ride. You just do not drive an open wheel race car like that. He should be driving Nascar. Ya, I know a win is a win, but that was the cheesiest win I ever saw, come on.
newhampshiregold2012 Bottom line is people like you and the rest of the safety nuts have turned motorsports into the disaster it is. Just like when people freaked out about Senna's tragic end. When you take away the chance for competition and you take away the inherent risk what are you left with? Crap! Trash! Nothing worth watching. These drivers knew the risks and they still climbed in the cockpits because they are gladiators. I am not saying all safety changes are bad or that all motorsports are no fun. I am simply stating that the risk is the appeal. Look at Formula 1 now. Mercedes rode around with nearly no competition and Indycar produces cookie cutter races that utilize generic machines. Why? Because safety and cost have destroyed the world of motorsports. Seriously man come on. I would take F-1's V8s, V10s, and V12s with manual transmissions that might be a little unsafe on tracks that are dangerous any day of the week over the garbage I still suffer through. All we can hope is that rules aficionados such as yourself lighten up and allow motorsports especially open-wheel to come back to a respectable period. I mean the current F-1 machines have dildo's for noses...in the name of fuel efficiency. They are F-1 machines that get horrible mileage so what. Eventually if you had your way we would watch The Toyota Prius Cup at BP Laguna Seca Go Kart Course!
I was there...in the port-a-pot right next to the track. For the life of me I couldn't understand why the crowd and announcers were going ape shit. Poor Herta. Alex Zanardi was amazing to watch.
I think, if you had to be the review judge on this one, you just have to give it to the guy who had the stones to overtake on the stupidest turn there is on the CART circuit. This is so crazy, unexpected, unsafe, and a miracle he held the car together afterwards, that everybody has shat too many bricks celebrating for some higher authority to take it away. What you do as a judge is put the rules in place afterwards that never ever allow for these sorts of events again, and you let the world file this pass in the Hall of Fame.
I was at that race as a child & saw take the checkered, then years later as an adult living in Hawaii I watched him complete the Ironman World Championship. Inspirational man to me.
Zinardi is great saw him at the Olympics, and he can certainly drive any kind of race car well. Reminds me of Alan Jones pass on Prost back in the 1979 or was it 80 season..heck look it up
Zanardi - along with Montoya - were my favourite Indycar drivers ever. They were both amazing and outstanding in equal measure. That said, this is the most overrated ‘overtake’ in the history of motor racing
