Dan Paddock continues Grand Prix Times’ build-up to IndyCar’s return to Long Beach with a quick look back at the 1998 CART thriller around the streets of California.
Zanardi, in the last of his three years in CART with Chip Ganassi, had been a winner at Long Beach on the way to the title in 1998, but his ’99 weekend got off to a rough start, starting just 11th after a brush with the wall in qualifying.
A multi-car accident which blocked the track early in the race dropped Zanardi a lap down and any hope of repeating his win from the previous year seemed gone.
Trapped in the traffic jam at the hairpin, Zanardi had to wait for his engine to be re-fired before he could limp back to the pits for repairs.
It didn’t look good, Zanardi’s left suspension was bent in the clash. His mechanics went to work, straightening the bent push-rod and Zanardi hit the track, albeit with his steering wheel half an hour out of place and a lap down in 18th.
Zanardi danced his Reynard-Honda through the field, with a sharp strategy from the Ganassi team bringing the Italian back into contention with the lead battle in the closing stages.
As his rivals hit the pits for a splash and dash to reach the end of the race, Zanardi found himself in third, behind leader Herta and a young Dario Franchitti.
Zanardi had the benefit of fresh rubber at his final stop, unlike Franchitti and Herta who had only taken on fuel and set about the pair in the dying laps.
He quickly dispatched Franchitti, before setting on Herta, diving down the inside of the American at Turn 3 on the penultimate lap to take a memorable Long Beach win.
Franchitti followed Zanardi past Herta to take second and secure his first podium in America.
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