WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will officially dedicate and name the Corkscrew the Zanardi Corkscrew on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in a ceremony that will mark the 30th anniversary of one of the most famous moments in open-wheel racing.
The event is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. and will include the unveiling of a commemorative marker. The tribute is tied to September 8, 1996, when Alex Zanardi made “The Pass” on Bryan Herta entering the Corkscrew on the final lap of the CART season finale at Laguna Seca and went on to win the race.
Why the tribute matters
The Corkscrew has long been one of the most recognizable turns in motorsports, and this renaming permanently links the corner to a driver whose place in racing history was secured that day at Laguna Seca. Zanardi’s victory over Bryan Herta in the No. 4 Target Chip Ganassi Honda Reynard remains one of the defining moments in CART and in American open-wheel racing more broadly.
The recognition also reflects a career that stretched well beyond that race. Zanardi became a two-time CART champion, and after his devastating 2001 accident at the Lausitzring, he went on to become a champion handcyclist and Paralympic gold medalist.
Expected voices around the ceremony
Bruce Canepa is among the figures associated with the tribute, and he recalled first meeting Zanardi during his rookie INDYCAR year with Chip. He also said Zanardi should be remembered for his fearless racing style, his determination and, perhaps most of all, the infectious smile that made him so beloved throughout the motorsports community.
With the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Finale also set for Laguna Seca, the timing gives the tribute added weight. The track will not only celebrate a historic pass, but also preserve Zanardi’s name at one of the sport’s most famous landmarks.
