Zanardi on the road again

Now that the racing season is done and he's got a win - and fourth (from 27th on the grid) last weekend in China - under his belt, Alex Zanardi is on the road again.

Wife Daniela is along for this promo tour for his marvelous book "My Sweetest Victory", which talks more about the wonderful life Alex has had than his altering accident at EuroSpeedway Lausitz back in 2001.

Now in its second English language edition, Zanardi's book has proven popular with race fans and observers alike. The likable Italian gets around with any number of prosthetic legs that allow him to do whatever he needs or wants.

CART's 1996 Rookie of the Year and its 1997-98 driving champion under the aegis of Target Chip Ganassi Racing was in Los Angeles to appear on Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period" this afternoon.

As always, he enthralled the live studio audience and the show's panelists with stories of how he performs the chores of a champion driver and spoke of the accident that nearly took his life.

Both Daniela and Alex Zanardi were excited about the next portion of their American swing as they'll be in Colorado tomorrow with fellow Barilla pasta- sponsored ski champ Bode Miller. "We're going skiing," regaled Daniela. "And it's 16 degrees out. They expect two full days of snow!"

The Zanardi duo returns home to Italy on Thursday to prepare for another season of racing with Team Italy-Spain's BMW FIA World Touring Car Championship team.

Zanardi was particularly pleased with his result in China, as he'd never got a clear lap in qualifying - turning only three flying laps total - yet drove through the field to take fourth in the race.

His joy was evident.