Automobile Racing Accidents Italy

Ayrton Senna, a three-time world Formula One driving champion whom some racing observers called the best race driver of all-time, died Sunday of head injuries suffered when his car crashed during the Grand Prix of San Marino in Imola, Italy. Senna, 34, was leading after seven laps when his Williams-Renault streaked off course at full speed--approximately 185 m.p.h.--at the Tamburello turn and crashed head on into a concrete wall.

Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both legs Saturday when his car was hit by another traveling about 200 mph in a race that was renamed the "American Memorial 500" after last week's terrorist attacks. The 34-year-old Italian was leading with 12 laps left in CART's first race in Europe. As he exited the pit area after a stop, Zanardi seemed to accelerate too early, lost control and swerved sideways across a grassy area and into the path of Alex Tagliani's car.

Italy's Riccardo Patrese, driving a Williams-Renault, crashed during tests for the San Marino Grand Prix Formula One race and suffered whiplash, bruises and a light concussion.

Covered in rose petals, their faces painted funereal black, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians bade farewell last week to Ayrton Senna, the Formula One driver who crashed and died on the racetrack at the Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. Senna was buried in tomb No. 11 at Sao Paulo's Morumbi Cemetery to a 21-gun salute and honors normally reserved for a head of state. And no wonder. In life, he was Brazil's, and probably the world's, ablest race car driver, who took the sport to new limits.

Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both legs Saturday when his car was hit by another traveling about 200 mph in a race that was renamed the "American Memorial 500" after last week's terrorist attacks. The 34-year-old Italian was leading with 12 laps left in CART's first race in Europe. As he exited the pit area after a stop, Zanardi seemed to accelerate too early, lost control and swerved sideways across a grassy area and into the path of Alex Tagliani's car.

While Ayrton Senna's technical crew studied the information in the "black box" data-logging system from the Formula One car in which the former world champion was killed Sunday at Imola, Italy, Italian authorities said Tuesday that the death might be treated as a possible homicide.

Roland Ratzenberger, a 31-year-old rookie Formula One driver but a veteran on other circuits, was killed Saturday trying to qualify for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. Ratzenberger had driven in only one Formula One race, finishing 11th in the Pacific Grand Prix at Aida, Japan, two weeks ago after failing to qualify for the season opener in Brazil. Ratzenberger suffered brain damage when his Simtek Ford crashed against a wall after going off the track on an S-shaped turn.

Covered in rose petals, their faces painted funereal black, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians bade farewell last week to Ayrton Senna, the Formula One driver who crashed and died on the racetrack at the Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. Senna was buried in tomb No. 11 at Sao Paulo's Morumbi Cemetery to a 21-gun salute and honors normally reserved for a head of state. And no wonder. In life, he was Brazil's, and probably the world's, ablest race car driver, who took the sport to new limits.

While Ayrton Senna's technical crew studied the information in the "black box" data-logging system from the Formula One car in which the former world champion was killed Sunday at Imola, Italy, Italian authorities said Tuesday that the death might be treated as a possible homicide.

Ayrton Senna, a three-time world Formula One driving champion whom some racing observers called the best race driver of all-time, died Sunday of head injuries suffered when his car crashed during the Grand Prix of San Marino in Imola, Italy. Senna, 34, was leading after seven laps when his Williams-Renault streaked off course at full speed--approximately 185 m.p.h.--at the Tamburello turn and crashed head on into a concrete wall.

Roland Ratzenberger, a 31-year-old rookie Formula One driver but a veteran on other circuits, was killed Saturday trying to qualify for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. Ratzenberger had driven in only one Formula One race, finishing 11th in the Pacific Grand Prix at Aida, Japan, two weeks ago after failing to qualify for the season opener in Brazil. Ratzenberger suffered brain damage when his Simtek Ford crashed against a wall after going off the track on an S-shaped turn.

Italy's Riccardo Patrese, driving a Williams-Renault, crashed during tests for the San Marino Grand Prix Formula One race and suffered whiplash, bruises and a light concussion.