Toyota Scores First Points of the Season

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Toyota Scores First Points of the Season
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Papis and Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing place in the points in Detroit
The Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing team and Max Papis scored their firstpoints finish of the season today by finishing 11th in the ITTAutomotive Detroit Grand Prix. The 77-lap race proved successful forToyota as well who had all four cars take the checkered flag on thedemanding Belle Isle circuit, including two drivers in the pointstandings (Fangio in 10th, Papis in 11th).
Like the rest of the weekend, the race was trouble-free for theArciero-Wells/MCI Racing team. Papis, who was the best Toyota qualifierfor the Detroit Grand Prix, qualified 20th but started 19th after PaulTracy withdrew from the race for medical reasons. Papis drove a strongrace and eventually finished 11th only 12.5 seconds behind race winnerGreg Moore. This result beat Papis' previous best-season standing of13th at Brazil.
"It was a really hard race. Unfortunately on the first stop we pit justbefore the yellow came out," said Papis who lost the Toyota lead to JuanFangio who pit under the yellow. "We had a hell of a run in the end. Ialmost got by Juan on the last lap, but I could not really make it. Ithas been a great weekend for the MCI Racing team and Toyota. It is thefirst time we have run the 3.2 Toyota engine (The latest development ofthe RV8B powerplant) in a race and both cars finished in the points.
Team manager Richard Buck was pleased with the performance of the crewin achieving its best season finish.
"We had some awesome pit stops," said Buck. "It was a very tough raceto have the top 16 cars running within about eight seconds of each otherat the finish due to fuel strategy. It's really tough to pass atDetroit, as everybody knows. I'm elated. Max carried the car a good 20percent over what the set-up was. We'll get there and I would just liketo say the guys did a great job today."
Cal Wells III was also pleased with the PPG Cup points finish. Thisaccomplishment added to his already successful weekend. Yesterday,Wells and the MCI Toyota Off Road Team convincingly won their 81stoff-road victory at the Baja 500 in Mexico. Driving the MCI Toyota T100truck with the new pre-production V8 engine, driver Ivan "Ironman"Stewart dominated the event by leading every mile and winning by a 28.33minute margin.
"It was a spectacular weekend for Toyota. Winning the Baja 500,finishing two cars in the points with Max in 11th and Juan in 10th, andhaving all four Toyotas finish the race," said Wells. "Max did a greatjob. He was patient and ran when he had to run. He's a fabulous racecar driver. I am very happy with this weekend."
The upcoming schedule for the team includes a test at the Mid-OhioSports Car Course on Tuesday, June 8 and then to Portland, Oregon forthe Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 on June 20 to 22. Prior to the Portlandrace, Papis will first travel to France to race in the 24 Hours ofLeMans. Partnering with MCI, Papis will co-drive the Ferrari 333 SP forMoretti Racing in the 24 Hours of LeMans which starts on June 14.
Source: Arciero Wells/MCIRacing


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Toyota Scores First Points of the Season ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Papis and Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing place in the points in Detroit The Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing team and Max Papis scored their firstpoints finish of the season today by finishing 11th in the ITTAutomotive Detroit Grand Prix. The 77-lap race proved successful forToyota as well who had all four cars take the checkered flag on thedemanding Belle Isle circuit, including two drivers in the pointstandings (Fangio in 10th, Papis in 11th). Like the rest of the weekend, the race was trouble-free for theArciero-Wells/MCI Racing team. Papis, who was the best Toyota qualifierfor the Detroit Grand Prix, qualified 20th but started 19th after PaulTracy withdrew from the race for medical reasons. Papis drove a strongrace and eventually finished 11th only 12.5 seconds behind race winnerGreg Moore. This result beat Papis' previous best-season standing of13th at Brazil. "It was a really hard race. Unfortunately on the first stop we pit justbefore the yellow came out," said Papis who lost the Toyota lead to JuanFangio who pit under the yellow. "We had a hell of a run in the end. Ialmost got by Juan on the last lap, but I could not really make it. Ithas been a great weekend for the MCI Racing team and Toyota. It is thefirst time we have run the 3.2 Toyota engine (The latest development ofthe RV8B powerplant) in a race and both cars finished in the points. Team manager Richard Buck was pleased with the performance of the crewin achieving its best season finish. "We had some awesome pit stops," said Buck. "It was a very tough raceto have the top 16 cars running within about eight seconds of each otherat the finish due to fuel strategy. It's really tough to pass atDetroit, as everybody knows. I'm elated. Max carried the car a good 20percent over what the set-up was. We'll get there and I would just liketo say the guys did a great job today." Cal Wells III was also pleased with the PPG Cup points finish. Thisaccomplishment added to his already successful weekend. Yesterday,Wells and the MCI Toyota Off Road Team convincingly won their 81stoff-road victory at the Baja 500 in Mexico. Driving the MCI Toyota T100truck with the new pre-production V8 engine, driver Ivan "Ironman"Stewart dominated the event by leading every mile and winning by a 28.33minute margin. "It was a spectacular weekend for Toyota. Winning the Baja 500,finishing two cars in the points with Max in 11th and Juan in 10th, andhaving all four Toyotas finish the race," said Wells. "Max did a greatjob. He was patient and ran when he had to run. He's a fabulous racecar driver. I am very happy with this weekend." The upcoming schedule for the team includes a test at the Mid-OhioSports Car Course on Tuesday, June 8 and then to Portland, Oregon forthe Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 on June 20 to 22. Prior to the Portlandrace, Papis will first travel to France to race in the 24 Hours ofLeMans. Partnering with MCI, Papis will co-drive the Ferrari 333 SP forMoretti Racing in the 24 Hours of LeMans which starts on June 14. Source: Arciero Wells/MCIRacing