Laguna Seca Dedicates the Legendary Corkscrew to Alex Zanardi

Thirty years after one of the most spectacular overtakes in motorsport history, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has decided to make the connection between Alex Zanardi and its most famous corner eternal.

Laguna Seca pendent in gold 18kt

The legendary Corkscrew will officially be dedicated to the Italian champion and renamed the “Zanardi Corkscrew”.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. local time, during the final weekend of the NTT IndyCar Series season. It will bring together several major figures from Zanardi’s career, including Chip Ganassi, Max Papis, IndyCar President Doug Boles and other representatives of American motorsport.

A permanent commemorative marker celebrating Alex Zanardi and his unforgettable Laguna Seca achievement will also be unveiled during the ceremony, according to the official announcement from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“The Pass”: a move that became motorsport history

On September 8, 1996, Alex Zanardi arrived at the final lap of the CART season finale just behind race leader Bryan Herta.

Zanardi was competing in his rookie season with Chip Ganassi Racing, but he had already demonstrated the talent, determination and spectacular driving style that would soon make him one of the most popular drivers in American racing.

As the two cars approached the Corkscrew, Zanardi attempted what appeared to be an impossible move.

He dived to the inside of Herta at the entrance to the famous left-right corner, crossed part of the dirt beyond the conventional racing line and somehow managed to control his car through the dramatic downhill section.

Zanardi emerged ahead of Herta and went on to win the race.

That extraordinary manoeuvre immediately became known as “The Pass”. It remains one of the most famous and recognizable overtakes in IndyCar and American motorsport history.

The official IndyCar archive still celebrates the moment as one of the defining events of Alex Zanardi’s remarkable career.

Biker Bracelet with Laguna Seca in yellow gold 18kt

America has never forgotten Alex Zanardi

Alex Zanardi’s connection with American motorsport went far beyond victories and championships.

Fans loved his aggressive driving style, his celebrations, his unmistakable smile and his ability to build a genuine relationship with the public. During his years with Chip Ganassi Racing, Zanardi became one of the most successful and charismatic drivers of the CART era.

Following his terrible accident in 2001, he became a universal symbol of courage, determination and rebirth. His return to competition, his handcycling achievements and his extraordinary human strength inspired millions of people around the world.

Naming the Corkscrew after Zanardi therefore celebrates much more than a legendary overtake. It honours the driver, the man and the values he will always represent.

From September 2026, one of the world’s most famous racing corners will forever carry the name of the Italian champion.

Chip Ganassi Racing celebrates Zanardi with a special livery

Chip Ganassi Racing will also honour Alex Zanardi during the Laguna Seca IndyCar weekend.

Alex Palou’s number 10 Honda will feature a special version of the iconic lightning bolt livery associated with the team’s successful period between 1996 and 1999.

The design became famous during the era in which Zanardi won two consecutive CART championships and established himself as a motorsport legend in the United States.

Palou’s commemorative car will make its track debut during Friday practice before competing in the season-ending IndyCar race on Sunday, September 6.

The special project brings together Zanardi, Chip Ganassi Racing and Laguna Seca exactly 30 years after “The Pass”.

The Laguna Seca Corkscrew: a corner like no other

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of the most recognizable motorsport venues in the United States.

Located near Monterey, California, the circuit is famous throughout the world for the Corkscrew, a spectacular sequence of Turns 8 and 8A featuring a blind entry, a rapid change of direction and a dramatic elevation drop.

Drivers approach the corner without being able to see the complete downhill section. Precision, courage and total commitment are essential.

Its unusual shape has made the Corkscrew instantly recognizable to racing fans, while Zanardi’s 1996 overtake transformed it into a symbol of creativity, bravery and instinctive driving.

Now officially named the “Zanardi Corkscrew”, the corner will become a permanent monument to one of the greatest personalities in Italian and international sport.

The Curve Leggendarie T-shirt celebrates Laguna Seca

The Laguna Seca Corkscrew is also part of “Curve Leggendarie”, the motorsport T-shirt collection created by Italian goldsmith, artist and designer Gianfranco Quartaroli for CIRCUITI Sportswear.

“Curve Leggendarie”, meaning “Legendary Corners”, transforms the most iconic sections of international racetracks into distinctive graphics that racing enthusiasts can wear.

These are not simply lines taken from a track map. Every corner represents a story, a challenge and an unforgettable motorsport moment.

The Laguna Seca Corkscrew could not be missing from the collection.

Its unique profile, dramatic elevation change and permanent connection with Alex Zanardi make it one of the most meaningful and visually powerful corners in racing history.

The “Corkscrew – Laguna Seca” T-shirt transforms the silhouette of the legendary Californian corner into a contemporary design dedicated to those who truly live and breathe motorsport.

When motorsport, design and memory meet

The Curve Leggendarie project was created to take the emotions of the racetrack beyond the paddock.

Each CIRCUITI Sportswear T-shirt allows fans to recognize and wear a legendary section of asphalt: a place where races were decided, champions were born and extraordinary stories unfolded.

Following the official dedication of the Zanardi Corkscrew, the Laguna Seca T-shirt takes on an even deeper meaning.

Wearing this corner means remembering one of the boldest overtakes ever attempted. Above all, it means celebrating Alex Zanardi’s courage, personality and extraordinary human legacy.

It is a connection between motorsport, fashion, art and memory—all expressed through the unmistakable outline of a legendary racing corner.

Wear the corner. Remember the legend.

The Corkscrew is no longer simply one of the most difficult and spectacular corners in international motorsport.

It is now the Zanardi Corkscrew.

A corner that belongs to Laguna Seca, to American racing and to the history of Alex Zanardi. A symbol of courage and the determination to attempt what others consider impossible.

Because some corners do not belong only to a racetrack.

They belong to history.

Discover the “Curve Leggendarie – Corkscrew Laguna Seca” T-shirts by CIRCUITI Sportswear at www.circuitigioielli.com and wear one of the most exciting corners in motorsport history.

Suggested image alt text: Alex Zanardi Corkscrew Laguna Seca Curve Leggendarie motorsport T-shirt by CIRCUITI Sportswear