Arciero-Wells Racing has signed Max Papis to drive for the team at three of the final four events of the 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series, announced team owners Cal Wells III and Frank Arciero Sr. Driving the No. 25 MCI Toyota-powered Reynard, Papis is scheduled to race at Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Laguna Seca. Papis fills the seat that was left vacant by the tragic loss of Jeff Krosnoff at the Toronto IndyCar race.

"Max has a passionate commitment to the sport which will help to perpetuate the power that Jeff Krosnoff brought to the team," said team co-owner Cal Wells III. "This is what we need in order to move forward."

John Scanlon, MCI vice president of strategic development and marketing added, "MCI supports Arciero-Wells Racing in the steps it is taking to continue on and move ahead. We are confident that Max Papis will do a great job for the team, MCI, and Toyota."

Papis, a 26-year-old Italian, is currently second in the 1996 driver's points for the IMSA Exxon World SportsCar Championship with three victories, seven track records, and three pole positions. He will continue to compete in the final three rounds of the World SportsCars (Mosport on Aug. 25, Dallas on Sept. 1, and Daytona on Oct. 6) In hopes of winning the championship. Due to this commitment, Arciero-Wells Racing will not field an entry at the Vancouver IndyCar race on Sept.1.

To complement his successful debut in American racing, with the MOMO Corse Ferrari World SportsCar team, Papis will now add another motorsports series to his schedule this year by joining the Arciero-Wells Racing IndyCar team.

"It is a great honor to be asked to driver for Arciero-Wells Racing," said Papis. "This is not the way that I wanted to come into Indy Cars, because of a tragedy, but my goal is to carry on the will and focus that Jeff Krosnoff had."

Papis will get his first experience in an Indy car at a rookie test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Thursday, Aug. 8 in preparation for the Miller 200 from Aug. 9 to 11.

"I know that Mid-Ohio is not going to be easy," commented Papis about his IndyCar debut. "Up to now, my major experience driving Indy cars is on the computer game simulator, which of course I have won several times (joking). I have driven in a variety of series though, and, like always, I am determined to give 110-percent effort and commitment to this project.

"I also owe a lot to Ferrari for bringing me to the United States to race in the IMSA Championship," added Papis. "Along with my commitment to Arciero-Wells Racing, I will also be working hard to win the World SportsCar championship for Ferrari and Team MOMO."

Born in Como, Italy, Papis' career in motorsports began at age 11 racing Karts. This interest grew into a four-year stint on the Italian Karting Team which won the Intercontinental Championship in 1987. He moved up to the Italian F3 series in 1989 and earned three victories in his final two seasons, 1991 and '92. The following two years, Papis moved on to the FIA F3000 series and finished 10th overall in his first season and scored a victory from the pole position at the Spanish GP in his second season. His outstanding performance in F3000 led him to become a test driver for Formula One's team Lotus in 1994. In 1995, Papis competed in a partial season of Formula One for the Arrows Team, scoring a seventh-place finish in the Italian GP at Monza.

Source: IndyCar News Service