Former Formula 1 driver and Paralympic champion dies at the age of 59

Alex Zanardi, the Italian motor racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medallist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents, has died. He was 59. Born in Bologna, Zanardi competed in Formula One for five seasons and achieved a best finish of sixth at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix before a major crash in 2001 resulted in both of his legs being amputated. The Italian raced for Formula One teams Jordan, Minardi and Lotus in the early 1990s before competing in the Cart championship in the United States. He won the series in 1997 and 1998.