Two-time CART Champion and Paralympics hero Alex Zanardi has paid a visit to Ferrari's Maranello HQ ahead of the launch of its 2013 contender.

The Italian, who never drove for the Maranello outfit, but did race for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams, spent time with his friend, team boss Stefano Domenicali, and checked out the departments where the team's F138 is taking shape.

Last year, Zanardi became an iconic symbol for the London Paralympics, after claiming victory in the H4 handcycle timetrial he claimed his second gold competing in the 64Km handcycle road race.

"It was a very exciting evening for me!" Zanardi told the team's website. "The thing that struck me the most when I went into the department where the new car was being built, was the smell, the same I used to smell when I went to the Chip Ganassi team headquarters in America. There too the car was red, but it definitely wasn't a Ferrari!

"I know many of the guys who work at the Scuderia from a long time ago," he continued, "but this was my first time in Maranello and it was a great experience. Finally, I can claim to have got my hands on a Red car!

"It's true that these days, the top teams are pretty big, just like a real average-sized company, but at Ferrari, I could see there was still that passion for the job that only comes with a love of racing.

"Then, thinking back to how nice was the tortellini and cold cuts of meat, you can imagine what a great evening it was, without any regrets about breaking the rules regarding my diet…"