Zanardi returns to the EuroSpeedway Lausitz.

After his serious accident in the premiere year of the German 500, the Italian racing driver Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi returns to the EuroSpeedway Lausitz as Grand Marshal on the occasion of the Champ Car race on May 11th.

This was announced today by CART, the Champ Car umbrella organisation, and EuroSpeedway Lausitz. As Grand Marshal, the former Formula One pilot and Champ Car champion will be the highest representative of the Champ Car World Series at the race in Germany.

Just 18 months after his serious accident, in which he lost both legs, he will speak the famous start phrase: "Gentlemen, start your engines", and thus send the Champ Car pilots into the race.

The Champ Car drivers and teams responded to this announcement with great joy and respect. At EuroSpeedway Lausitz, everyone is especially delighted by this honour.

Hans-Joerg Fischer, the managing director of EuroSpeedway Lausitz, remarked: "Like no other racing driver, Alex Zanardi stands for motor sports with all its facets. We have even greater respect for his outstanding personality and the way in which Alex Zanardi mastered his fate.

"It is an extraordinary honour for my team and me, for CART and all Champ Car pilots, as well as for the entire Lausitz region, to be able to welcome him again as a member of this great international family at the German 500."

The Champ Car World Series, the world's fastest car race, celebrates its comeback at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz from May 9th to 11th. At the German 500, the fifth of a total of 18 races, a high-speed oval will be driven for the first time this season, with peak speeds of more than 380 kph.

Advance ticket sales are well underway. The tickets, which are valid for three days, are available in the categories Gold (EUR 149.00), Silver (EUR 99.00) and Bronze (EUR49.00) and can be ordered under the ticket hotline 01805/880288. The paddock tickets, limited to 5,000, cost EUR50.00 and can only be purchased in advance.