Alex Zanardi is no longer dreaming of hoisting trophies. His top priority is walking over to his son and putting him over his shoulder.

"I have a lot of work, a lot of therapy and rehabilitation ahead of me but my No. 1 goal right now is to learn to walk again," said Zanardi, speaking by telephone Saturday from his room at Berlin's Marzahn Hospital.

"That sounds exciting to me right now. Obviously, it's boring to most people but just being able to walk again is something that will make me happier than you can imagine.

"One day this will all be a memory and I can't wait for that."

It's been three weeks since the 34-year-old Italian lost both legs in a devastating accident during the closing stages of CART's American Memorial at Lausitz, Germany.

He lost 70 percent of the blood in his body and only quick thinking and reaction from CART's Simple Green safety team saved his life.

"I don't remember anything, not even warm-ups," said the two-time CART champion, whose car was cut in half by Alex Tagliani. "I haven't had the desire to look at the tape of the race but I know I can be thankful that Terry (Trammell), Steve (Olvey) and the CART crew were there.

"They saved my life and I can never thank them enough."

Zanardi's injuries also included fractures of his pelvis and a concussion but everything is healing nicely.

"I have no pain and my right leg, what's left of it, is just fine," he continued. "But my left leg is still open because I had some infection and, until it's gone completely, they won't close it up.

"I've been getting around in a wheelchair and going to physical therapy."

One of the most positive and engaging people to ever strap on a race car, Zanardi and wife, Daniella, have been inundated with letters, cards and emails from all over the world.

"I've received so much mail and it's such a show of love from people that it's somewhat overwhelming," said the man who won 15 races in three years and the fans' fancy with his popular doughnuts following a victory. "It's the toughest time, right now, but all these people have made Daniella and I feel so good."

Niccolo Zanardi, Alex' three-year-old son, hasn't been able to see his father since the accident but he's being brought to Berlin on Wednesday.

"People have been saying, 'Alex, with today's technology, nothing is impossible. You can ski again and you can drive a race car again.' But I'm not dreaming of anything like that.

"I'm just thinking about standing up. You know me, I was always up for any challenge, but I'm not thinking about racing or skiing. I just want to be able to stand up, walk over to my son and put him on my shoulder.

"That's my dream right now."