Leon Neal via Getty Alessandro Leone Zanardi passed away on May 1—ironically, an already somber day for racing fans worldwide—at the young age of 59. The exact cause of death was not revealed, though a statement from the Zanardi family claims that, although unexpected, it was peaceful. “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, 1 May,” read a statement from Zanardi’s family, per the BBC. “Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all those who are showing their support at this time and asks that their grief and privacy be respected during this period of mourning.” Zanardi, who raced in a myriad of racing disciplines from endurance to rally, is best known for his dominance in American open-wheel racing like CART and, of course, Formula 1. Following a horrific, near-death crash at the Lausitzring on September 15, 2001, that claimed both of his legs, Zanardi shocked the world by returning to racing in the World Touring Car Championship a few years later. Even more impressively, he went on to become a Paralympic champion and win the New York Marathon, the World Championships, and the London Paralympics in 2012. He has two gold and one silver medal to his name. This is a developing story.