Max Papis to Race at LeMans

JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing
Max Papis to Race at LeMans
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Sponsor MCI supports the effort
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., (May 28, 1997) - Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing Powered By Toyota CART driver, Max Papis, will join owner/driver Gianpiero Moretti and Didier Theys to race the Ferrari 333 SP in this year's 24 Hours of LeMans. MCI, the primary sponsor of Papis' CART Indy car, will also team with Papis at the historic event.
"We are very pleased that Max is such a sought after athlete that he has been asked to compete in one of the world's most famous events with such a well-known name as Ferrari," said Arciero-Wells team co-owner Cal Wells III. "Arciero-Wells, MCI, and Toyota support Max 100 percent in this effort. We will all be watching very closely and cheering him on as he goes for the victory at LeMans."
This opportunity with Moretti's Ferrari Racing team reunites Papis with the team he raced for in 1996 when he was the runner-up in the IMSA World SportsCar Championship with three victories, four pole positions, four fastest laps, and eight track records. At the age of 27, his 24 Hours of LeMans debut will add to his accomplished motorsports career which includes CART Indy car racing, World SportsCars, and Formula One.
"I really want to thank the MCI Racing team and Cal Wells for allowing me to race at LeMans during the busiest part of the Indy car schedule," said Papis. "LeMans is a very important event for me considering my European heritage and Ferrari background. I am very proud to have MCI follow me for this special event. I hope to give them satisfaction and am honored by their close involvement with me."
Papis will travel to LeMans, France for the 65th running of the 24 Hours of LeMans which starts on Saturday, June 14. The event takes place on the weekend between the Detroit and Portland rounds of the PPG CART World Series, so it will not disrupt Papis' full time ride with the Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing team.
Joining Arciero-Wells at Mid-Ohio last year, Papis has nine career CART starts with his best finish, ninth, coming at Road America last year. Driving the No. 25 MCI Racing Reynard 97I/Toyota RV8B, he has posted the best qualifying (17th at Homestead) and finishing results (13th at Rio de Janeiro) for the sophomore Toyota powerplant this season.


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Max Papis to Race at LeMans ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Sponsor MCI supports the effort Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., (May 28, 1997) - Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing Powered By Toyota CART driver, Max Papis, will join owner/driver Gianpiero Moretti and Didier Theys to race the Ferrari 333 SP in this year's 24 Hours of LeMans. MCI, the primary sponsor of Papis' CART Indy car, will also team with Papis at the historic event. "We are very pleased that Max is such a sought after athlete that he has been asked to compete in one of the world's most famous events with such a well-known name as Ferrari," said Arciero-Wells team co-owner Cal Wells III. "Arciero-Wells, MCI, and Toyota support Max 100 percent in this effort. We will all be watching very closely and cheering him on as he goes for the victory at LeMans." This opportunity with Moretti's Ferrari Racing team reunites Papis with the team he raced for in 1996 when he was the runner-up in the IMSA World SportsCar Championship with three victories, four pole positions, four fastest laps, and eight track records. At the age of 27, his 24 Hours of LeMans debut will add to his accomplished motorsports career which includes CART Indy car racing, World SportsCars, and Formula One. "I really want to thank the MCI Racing team and Cal Wells for allowing me to race at LeMans during the busiest part of the Indy car schedule," said Papis. "LeMans is a very important event for me considering my European heritage and Ferrari background. I am very proud to have MCI follow me for this special event. I hope to give them satisfaction and am honored by their close involvement with me." Papis will travel to LeMans, France for the 65th running of the 24 Hours of LeMans which starts on Saturday, June 14. The event takes place on the weekend between the Detroit and Portland rounds of the PPG CART World Series, so it will not disrupt Papis' full time ride with the Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing team. Joining Arciero-Wells at Mid-Ohio last year, Papis has nine career CART starts with his best finish, ninth, coming at Road America last year. Driving the No. 25 MCI Racing Reynard 97I/Toyota RV8B, he has posted the best qualifying (17th at Homestead) and finishing results (13th at Rio de Janeiro) for the sophomore Toyota powerplant this season.