DRAGS, DOLLARS & SENSE: RACING TO THE MAX
Fri, 2010-06-04 18:54
The Blue Max is a legendary part of drag racing’s past.
Mad Max could be an exciting part of its future.
“Before I end up my career, you’re definitely going to see me at least doing a test in a dragster,” says Formula One/Le Mans/Indy 500/sports car/Champ Car/now NASCAR driver Max Papis.
Don’t laugh.
Mad Max could be an exciting part of its future.
“Before I end up my career, you’re definitely going to see me at least doing a test in a dragster,” says Formula One/Le Mans/Indy 500/sports car/Champ Car/now NASCAR driver Max Papis.
Don’t laugh.
I’ve known Max since 1996. He’s a friend. As I’ve often heard him say, “For me, the word ‘no’ does not exist.”
Now, THAT’s a RACER!
That is how, in large part, he’s navigated the long-and-winding – if unusual – road from Monza to Martinsville, England to Indianapolis, La Sarthe to Laguna Seca. Why not a path to Pomona?
Papis, 40, won three Champ Car races with Miller beer sponsorship. That connection led him to meet Don Prudhomme. Snake took him out to the starting line to experience a combined 16,000 horsepower.
“He made me stand right at the Christmas tree,” Papis recalled. “I almost had a heart attack!”
But, considering he’s won the Daytona 24 hours and a Rolex Grand-Am sports car championship, the question of “why drag racing” is worth asking. And, I’m glad I did.
“Top Fuel would be a blast,” answered Papis, a native of Como, Italy who is married to double Indy 500 and Formula One champion Emerson Fittipaldi’s daughter Tatiana. “I don’t know if I would be able to do it at a serious level, but I always wanted to do it. I feel that Top Fuel dragster represents the American spirit really well because of the power, the noise.
“It is spectacular and I love it. If (a team owner/sponsor) wants maximum (publicity), I would do it anytime.”
I can’t say I’m surprised, because that’s the kind of guy Max is. In my four decades-plus of experience and observation, the only driver who equals his passion for the sport is two-time CART champion, the inspirational Alex Zanardi.
Which helps explain not only Papis’ interest in going straight, but also sliding around on a dirt track, and now driving the Geico Toyota in selected NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck events.
“It (Cup) is undoubtedly the most competitive series in America, or, I would say the world. I would maybe have stayed in Champ Car if it would have stayed what it was, but the game changed, so I changed as well. I just saw NASCAR is where the best of the best is.
“It is a big challenge and I’m proud to be one of the only drivers in the world to say I drove Formula One, sports cars, Champ Car, Le Mans and now NASCAR. It is the most challenging thing I have done in my life.
“Where my passion comes from is I really love my sport. I love every lap, every corner. I want to be successful at what I do.
“It also comes from a certain humbleness that grew in me from my years in racing. I haven’t always been in an up-going situation in my career. I’ve gone through a lot of situations where I found myself down on my knees, and I had to make a decision if I wanted to stay down there, or lift myself up. Every time I found my love of the sport and support of my family lifted me back up.
“I’m glad (people) can see my passion, my excitement, out there. When I put something in my head, I go through walls to make it happen.”
Pit-area stereotypers need to know this, too. Ask Papis to name his favorite car, and he quickly says: “The next one I get in to.”
Drag racing history is full of colorful and wonderful personalities. Max Papis would fit right in.
Mad Max could be an exciting part of its future.
“Before I end up my career, you’re definitely going to see me at least doing a test in a dragster,” says Formula One/Le Mans/Indy 500/sports car/Champ Car/now NASCAR driver Max Papis.
Don’t laugh.
Mad Max could be an exciting part of its future.
“Before I end up my career, you’re definitely going to see me at least doing a test in a dragster,” says Formula One/Le Mans/Indy 500/sports car/Champ Car/now NASCAR driver Max Papis.
Don’t laugh.
I’ve known Max since 1996. He’s a friend. As I’ve often heard him say, “For me, the word ‘no’ does not exist.”
Now, THAT’s a RACER!
That is how, in large part, he’s navigated the long-and-winding – if unusual – road from Monza to Martinsville, England to Indianapolis, La Sarthe to Laguna Seca. Why not a path to Pomona?
Papis, 40, won three Champ Car races with Miller beer sponsorship. That connection led him to meet Don Prudhomme. Snake took him out to the starting line to experience a combined 16,000 horsepower.
“He made me stand right at the Christmas tree,” Papis recalled. “I almost had a heart attack!”
But, considering he’s won the Daytona 24 hours and a Rolex Grand-Am sports car championship, the question of “why drag racing” is worth asking. And, I’m glad I did.
“Top Fuel would be a blast,” answered Papis, a native of Como, Italy who is married to double Indy 500 and Formula One champion Emerson Fittipaldi’s daughter Tatiana. “I don’t know if I would be able to do it at a serious level, but I always wanted to do it. I feel that Top Fuel dragster represents the American spirit really well because of the power, the noise.
“It is spectacular and I love it. If (a team owner/sponsor) wants maximum (publicity), I would do it anytime.”
I can’t say I’m surprised, because that’s the kind of guy Max is. In my four decades-plus of experience and observation, the only driver who equals his passion for the sport is two-time CART champion, the inspirational Alex Zanardi.
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Which helps explain not only Papis’ interest in going straight, but also sliding around on a dirt track, and now driving the Geico Toyota in selected NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck events.
“It (Cup) is undoubtedly the most competitive series in America, or, I would say the world. I would maybe have stayed in Champ Car if it would have stayed what it was, but the game changed, so I changed as well. I just saw NASCAR is where the best of the best is.
“It is a big challenge and I’m proud to be one of the only drivers in the world to say I drove Formula One, sports cars, Champ Car, Le Mans and now NASCAR. It is the most challenging thing I have done in my life.
“Where my passion comes from is I really love my sport. I love every lap, every corner. I want to be successful at what I do.
“It also comes from a certain humbleness that grew in me from my years in racing. I haven’t always been in an up-going situation in my career. I’ve gone through a lot of situations where I found myself down on my knees, and I had to make a decision if I wanted to stay down there, or lift myself up. Every time I found my love of the sport and support of my family lifted me back up.
“I’m glad (people) can see my passion, my excitement, out there. When I put something in my head, I go through walls to make it happen.”
Pit-area stereotypers need to know this, too. Ask Papis to name his favorite car, and he quickly says: “The next one I get in to.”
Drag racing history is full of colorful and wonderful personalities. Max Papis would fit right in.
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