Max Papis: "When you start at a new track, the first thing you have to do - the most important thing you have to do - is first of all: walk around the track on foot. Have an exact look at the bumps, where black lines are that usually other people put there tires in, and to see the consistency of the curbs. You know - inner and outside curbing, if you can use them or not, and [to see] the way the runoff is in the corners.

"Secondly: What I do is I ask my engineer [about] the gearing position that they were using the previous year, or I make my own decision based on my experience; watching if it's a tight [rpm] band or if it's not too tight.

"So, this is how I do it: I walk the track, I go back to the pit and I think. I talk to my engineer and I do [it] again: I run the track - after I memorize the track I spend some time with my engineer, I put [on] my jogging pants and run the track. And so I put exactly my mind and I do exactly like if I was in the racecar. Exactly the same line by foot that you do in a racecar.

"The most sensible approach you have to do when you run in a car that you don't know, is not to outbrake the car. Always try to be very smooth and gentle on the brake, instead of trying to go faster [by] braking later, I try to go faster braking less. Always less and less, and, you know, always braking a little bit further down but not braking strong - always braking less, to be able to carry good speed. This is basically what I do."

SpeedCenter: "And how long does it take you until you feel absolutely at home on a track. How many laps or visits to the track? Is it on the first weekend?"

Max Papis: "Depending if you know the car very well or if you don't know the car very well?"

SpeedCenter: "For example, people say Bobby Rahal has this advantage at Mid Ohio, because he has driven thousands of laps there. Is there a level you get to after years of going back to a certain track that you know every bump and all the different lines?"

Max Papis: "Actually, you know, it's only one line in the corner - one consistent and fast line. That's my personal point of view. After you have done a course for some time, you know it - that's it. The major thing is how long [of a] seat time you have had that allowed you actually to have the confidence in the car and know that the car can do that, or can't do that."

SpeedCenter: "That's what you are still working on?"

Max Papis: "Yes. you know - I tell you, if I am in Mid Ohio, or if I am in Elkhart in my Ferrari, to me it takes an average of 10 to 12 or 15 laps to feel at home, to find the limit and know exactly where you are. With a new car it takes a little bit longer, because you reach the limit much slower. That's the only difference."

SpeedCenter: "You don't know exactly what to do to make it reach the limit?"

Max Papis: "The major difference between the two cars is that one is turbocharged and the other is not. This makes a bit of a difference, because - you know - the two engines in these cars you drive in a different way. The turbocharger causes a little bit of a delay; with the non-turbocharged, the normally aspirated engine, the drivability is a little bit higher. Actually, what I can say about the difference between the two cars is that there is not much of a difference like from Formula 1 to the sports car. The sports car and the Indy car are not so different. The style of driving is similar, because you have to carry a lot of speed in the corner; Formula 1 are a much more alive cars. Braking: you brake very very deep, and acceleration, you know, you go on the throttle very early. With [an] Indy car, it is a more 'evoluted' IMSA [car]. That's what I can call it."

SpeedCenter: "Is that because of the downforce an IndyCar develops?"

Max Papis: "Yeah. Actually, in the fast bends, you are faster than an IMSA [car] because you have more downforce, but the style of driving is very similar. You have to carry speed, you have [to] not brake too late; and not to outbrake the car, and, actually, you have to really float the car in the corner. What I found [to be] the major difference between these two cars [WSC and Indy car], is that the difference is basically the tires. With WSC you have a sidewall of the tire [that is] much smaller, that make the car a little bit more stable in the fast bends. With the Indy car you have a little bit higher sidewall, so the car just leans on the tire a little more. That's the major difference. Otherwise they are both very big fun to drive. But the difference within themselves is the approach you have. Basically the difference is in the very fast bends."

SpeedCenter: "And here at Elkhart, which bends would that be? The Caroussel?"

Max Papis: "No."

SpeedCenter: "What do you expect? We have asked Mark Blundell the same question and he said that, and I quote here, "I had a big shock when I first went. It's the toughest form of racing I have ever done." The question we have is how do you plan to prepare for that? We know there is spring training, but is there any other test run that you are planning on during the fall or winter?"

Max Papis: "Actually, I have had a long relationship with Alex, Gil DeFerran, I know Andre Ribeiro quite well, but the two that I know the best are Alex and Gil - and Christian Fittipaldi as well.

"You know, I am very glad that I discovered USA-motor racing, because the approach to motor racing is true. Here [what] is important [is] the sport. The competition is at a very high level. It's [about] sport and [the] human being. Because, you know, people here it seems haven't forgotten yet who is behind the wheel, who builds up things, who makes everything is always a human being. These are the things I appreciate the most, and I really like the fans coming over to me, because this is one of the things that make you feel you do a special job. The reason why I push very hard and I try to go on the limit is for the people that are there watching. And motivation: I look for motivation. I have my own motivation, but you look all the time for new ways to go faster; to find new motivation. And one [element] of this motivation is really the people watching that really cheer you on. To be able to win and make them happy is part of my job."

SpeedCenter: "In IndyCar racing, it is the rules that make the cars more equal, focusing the attention that way more on the team and driver. What do you think about the other parts of the rules package - the yellow flags, especially full course yellows. Some of our European readers are very opposed to full course yellows, thinking this rule distorts the picture of true competition. How do you feel about this?"

Max Papis: "You know, it doesn't matter. I think - in sports - there are people who have to learn to be winners and then there are winners. You can't put them both together. There are two separate races in the same race, so I think the show is very important. The only thing is: you don't have to spoil it. That's what I said. I think yellow flags is a very good rule, especially because you keep the rhythm. You don't stop the race course - maybe the problem with yellow flags in the States is that some tracks are not really up to the standards of a European track [regarding removal equipment]. So that's the reason why there are a lot of yellow flags, even at this [track]. If we were in Europe, the yellow flag would come out much less than on some tracks here in the States. Some tracks are perfect, but some others are still getting better. So that's my personal point of view.

"You know you can deal with it [yellow flags] and, you know, for me it's nicer to see a very close race in the last 20 to 30 laps, but that doesn't mean that is someone has a 30 second lead in the last 20 laps you must put out a yellow because you need to close down the gap. That, you don't need. The show is done by race cars but you don't have to spoil it. If someone is the leader and he deserves to win, he deserves to win."

SpeedCenter: "You said you are running mid-field. You are running a Toyota engine and they are known to win the championship in all the racing series they enter. How soon do you think you are going to be competitive beyond mid-field? Next year? Late next year?"

Max Papis: "I owe a lot to Ferrari. I am very loyal to the people at Ferrari and Team Momo who took me over here. Without them I wouldn't be here talking to you or even in IndyCar. I have two goals: my number one goal this year is to win the WSC championship for me and for Ferrari, and win the IMSA championship overall. And, secondly, to bring in my knowledge and getting the knowledge from the [Arciero Wells] team to become a better driver in IndyCar.

For next year, my two goals are: I would really like to drive an IndyCar for the full season, and during the same time keep my relation with Ferrari, trying to compete in the important races like Daytona 24 hours, Le Mans 24 hours, and maybe trying to attempt at one of the GTS races for Ferrari. That's what we are trying to do next year."

SpeedCenter: "Thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions."

Max Papis: "It's been a pleasure."