Zanardi to receive Greg Moore Award.

Double FedEx Championship Series winner Alex Zanardi will receive the Greg Moore Achievement Award at this year's Black and White Gala Dinner in Toronto on 4 July.

The Molson Indy Achievement Award, introduced in 1987 and renamed the Greg Moore Achievement Award in 2000, recognises an individual, group, or organisation that has made a major contribution to auto racing, particularly in regard to the CART FedEx Championship Series. Zanardi was forced to retire from the sport after a tragic accident in Germany last year in which he lost both his legs.

While closing in on what many believe might have been his first victory of the season, at the American Memorial 500 in Germany on 16 September, Zanardi was involved in a late-race accident that left him with devastating leg injuries.

After six weeks in a German hospital and several months of physiotherapy, the popular Italian has very much returned to a normal life with the use of prosthetic legs, and has been a true inspiration to everyone during his recovery, much as he always was as a fierce competitor on the racetrack and true gentleman on and off the track.

"Alex has been a huge supporter of Molson IndyFest events in Toronto over the years," said Charlie Johnstone, executive director of the Molson Indy Festival Foundation, "He has contributed so much to the CART Series and is a fan favourite in Toronto, exhibiting a terrific spirit both on and off the track."

Greg Moore was one of Canada's most successful motorsport exports and was tragically killed in the final round of the 1999 season at the California Speedway in Fontana.

Past recipients of the Greg Moore Achievement Award include Barry Green, Ric Moore, Bobby Rahal, Michael Andretti, Wally Dallenbach, Player's Ltd, Al Unser, Rick Mears, Doctors Steve Olvey and Terry Trammell, Roger Penske, Jim Chapman, Mario Andretti, John Frasco and Carl Haas.