The Indianapolis Star reports that IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has invited former CART champion Alex Zanardi to file an application for one of the five "outsider" spots in the season-ending IZOD IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this October. The five drivers, to be selected by IndyCar later this year from all eligible applicants, will then have a shot at a $5m bonus if they can win the Oct. 16 race.
"We had a conversation about it," Zanardi told the Star from his home in Italy, "but I didn't think he [Bernard] was serious."
Zanardi, who lost both his legs in a horrific Champ Car crash in 2001, made a comeback to racing in European touring cars with a BMW fitted with hand controls. The Star reports that Zanardi, 44, is at least considering the idea.
"I'd love to be in it, and it's one thing to talk about it, another to put it together and do it," he said.