| [ News Index ][ SpeedCenter Homepage ][ Copyright Info ][ SpeedCenter Galleries ] |
©1998 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. The Arciero-WellsChampionship Auto Racing Teams entry in the FedExChampionship Series announced Monday that Max Papis askedfor and was released from his commitments to the MCI RacingTeam/Arciero-Wells for the 1999 Champ Car season. Papis is pursuing other opportunities and is currently innegotiations which should culminate in an announcement by theend of this week. Scott Pruett, as announced, will drive for theCalifornia-based MCI Racing Team/Arciero-Wells on the two-carToyota team. An additional driver will be announced. "After we lost Jeff Krosnoff in 1996, we had huge shoes to fill,"said Cal Wells III, team co-owner of Arciero-Wells. "The teamneeded a driver who would continue Jeff's passion andcommitment to his craft in the same uncompromising fashion Jeffdid. We knew we could not replace Jeff but we needed someonewho would understand and emulate his mantra, 'Stay Hungry.'Max has given that to us, in and out of the car. He has been a trueasset in many, many respects to our team and sponsors." "I have a lot of confidence in Toyota and our team to continue tomove ahead and run at the front," said Wells. "I am also veryproud of our Toyota Atlantic team and our Toyota Off-Road Team;there are exciting times ahead for all of us. We are lookingforward, as we move into our new facility to continue to work withMCI, Toyota and all of our sponsors." "Max has been an integral part of Toyota's Champ Car programthroughout the past several seasons," said Les Unger, NationalMotorsports Manager of Toyota Motor Sales, USA. "Hiscommitment and dedication to Arciero-Wells, Toyota MotorCorporation and Toyota Racing Development (TRD USA) hasbeen instrumental in the development of a competitive enginepackage for the CART FedEx Championship Series. ToyotaMotor Sales and MCI look forward to continued success with Maxduring the remaining five races of 1998, and wish him well in allhis future endeavors." Papis, originally of Como, Italy, joined Arciero-Wells mid-seasonin 1996 and posted his first CART points after only two racesunder the MCI/Arciero-Wells banner. In 2½ seasons and 34 startsin CART competition, Papis and the Aricero-Wells team haveearned points in eight events, with a career best finish of eighth atMichigan in 1997 and an eighth place finish at Toronto this year.Papis also held the provisional pole at Detroit during this season.Papis has competed in and has track records and poles in theInternational Motor Sports Association (IMSA), where his moniker,"Mad Max" was coined for his late-race charges to the front. Hehas also competed in F1, Formula 3000 and on the ItalianNational Karting Team. "Sometimes in life you need to make choices between your heartand brain," said Papis. "In life you have opportunities that do notcome by very often. A driver needs to make decisions made bythe brain even if it hurts your heart because when you think of thespecial moments and things in the past you need to explore thefuture and the opportunities that are ahead of you. You havechoices that you need to do in life that are comprehensive offriendship, hunger, emotion and the will to succeed. "I want to thank Cal Wells, Mark Johnson, Frank Arciero and theArciero-Wells team. Since I started driving in the United Statesand with this team in 1996, all of my crew, Cal, Mark and MCIhave been around me like my family and have taught me manythings. It has been like growing up like a kid in a family; we havehad good and bad moments, but as a team we have alwayslooked to the best. "The people in Japan and in the United States at Toyota have builtand we as a team have fought to develop our program with onegoal -- to succeed. I want to thank them for everything they havetaught me and the hard work they have done and their continuedcommitment. "I know I have and will have in Cal, Mark and every single personon my team and at MCI, friends for my life and forever. I wishthem a lot of success because they are honest people thatbelieve in one goal, succeeding in your dreams." "Max has been a sponsor's dream as an ambassador for MCI andwe are sad to see him leave the Arciero-Wells Team," said JimFreudenberg, General Manager of MCI Racing. "Over the pastthree years Max has made a tremendous impression on all of ouremployees, customers, executives and guests who have methim. We wish him the best for the remainder of the 1998 seasonand in the future. MCI will continue to sponsor and support theArciero-Wells/Toyota team next year and we have confidence inCal Wells in choosing Max's successor." Source: Arciero Wells | ||
| |||