Thomas Thottungal essays how this Italian racing driver has turned tragedy into triumph.

   New York, Sunday Nov 6, 2011: Alex Zanardi, one of the fastest men on four wheels who won two CART championships before a devastating accident in 2001 cost him both his legs, wins the New York City Marathon at the age of 45.

    Topping a field of 93 participants in the hand-cycle category (hand-operated threewheeled cycles), Zanardi won a tight race, beating runner-up Polish rider Rafal Wilk by just two seconds, and clocking 1 hour, 13 minutes and 58 seconds. Losing his legs didn’t mean losing his competitive drive. When he first attempted the New York City Marathon in 2007, the manager of a local Barilla restaurant told Zanardi he'd be crazy to try it. He finished fourth in that race, after just four weeks of training. “You just don't tell this man NO because he'll make you look foolish for doubting his resolve even for a....