The Italian thanked doctors in the Berlin hospital where he was taken after the accident, which happened during the American Memorial 500 race at the Lausitzring.

"I feel well enough now to return home and to start a new life there," said the 35-year-old.

"Motorsport is an important part of my life," he added.

"Perhaps I will indeed drive in races again some day - I don't really know."

"Now my goal is to be able to walk again (with the aid of artificial limbs). That is my new challenge."

Zanardi started his Cart career in 1996 and won championships in 1997 and 1998, becoming only the third driver in the history of the series to claim successive titles.

He had both legs amputated above the knees after the accident which happened when he was struck at 200mph by Alex Tagliani after leaving the pits in his Reynard-Honda.

Zanardi, who has also had two stints in Formula One, said he did not remember the crash but had seen videotapes of it.

"It was a huge crash, horrible. I'm happy that I'm still alive and I try not to think about what I lost."

But he added: "I didn't lose much. I got to know the importance of the love of family and friends. Sometimes in life we forget what we have."