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Max Papis
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Q.
Now that you have done some testing, how does the 2001 Lola car feel and what are some of the areas the team needs to focus on before the season starts?
Papis: The organizational part of the team definitely needs a lot of focus because we have six race cars this year that they need to turnaround at the shop with team Rahal to get ready and get prepared for each race. The car that just raced will go home and then there will be another car perfectly ready for the other race. So the guys will have to be more organized to get everything right. It's the same for everyone in-season testing out season testing. To me as a driver I don't really mind, the more I can drive the car the better but overall I would say that this will help to be more focused and having more time to get the organizational side perfect. I had one day of testing. I feel we can win if we have a better self-confidence and we get stronger within ourselves and the team . We are working on this process, so I am positive about it.
Q. Do you see a lot of difference between the Reynard and the Lola?
Papis: To early to speak of.
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Papis at
Laguna Seca 2000
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Q. How many more testing days do you have left before the season begins and what other tracks will you be testing at?
Papis: I have done one test, so I have 9 more. We will test at Phoenix, Laguna, Sebring and Homestead. We will not test at TMS. We are going to concentrate on a lot of road course testing.
Q. Do you and your teammate like your cars setup similarly?
Papis: I think Kenny's done a little bit of testing with the 2000 Reynard it was a test for CART. I feel that in oval racing if you get good engineering and you get things squared away and you know your car you can kind of get through it. It is much more difficult to get a very good car in a street course or a road course configuration so we will concentrate on that.
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Papis
holds off Castroneves down the Corkscrew at Laguna
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Q. With several of the teams switching powerplants this year how much of an advantage do you think your team will have this season by keeping the same powerplant as last year?
Papis: There is no advantage we are working on consistency. We are working on getting better within the team. We have tremendous support with Ford and that is very important to us. They won the Manufacturer's cup, unfortunately it was not all the time roses but we won the first race for the XF engine in Miami. The first time we raced with it and it brought us fantastic satisfaction. Nobody is ever going to win the first for that engine anymore. Therefore, we will try to put more winnings in our basket.
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Mad
Max
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Q. What are some of the difficulties a team has when they transition from using one chassis to another?
Papis: I try to look at it like what are going to be the advantages not the problems. I think that we will have new motivation to make the new car work well and learn about the set ups, about the different options that this car offers. But like everything, it is a good challenge and the challenge comes from getting to know the car quicker, getting to know all the small details about it and getting to know it technically and on the mechanical side as well. I feel that it will be a good engineering exercise and on my side it will be to make sure that I fit comfortably and I make the best out of my 10 days. Those 10 days will count.
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Papis
salutes to crowd after taking his first Champ Car win in Miami
in 2000.
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Q. How is your team going to prepare for the new race venues outside the U.S. if there is no in-season testing?
Papis: Testing has always been important we have never wasted a mile. There is definitely more emphasis on what we are going to due, the reason being that we only have 10 times to go out there and learn about our car .I feel that it is only up to the mental approach that you have for the business if you are serious it doesn't matter if you have only 10 test days or 30 test days its going to be the same. You got to make the best of it.
Q. Being from Europe, are you excited that CART is going there this year?
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Papis
waves his country's flag. He's Italian and very proud of
it.
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Papis: CART is getting more and more global its a fantastic way of seeing the series go. I think we are going to have very good support out in Europe like we have had everywhere around the world. So now it is time for the United States to realize what we have in the series.
Q. There has been some notable changes in CART for the 2001 season. One change is new CART CEO Joseph Heitzler what are some of the things that you would like to see implemented in this upcoming season?
Papis: I am focused on my racing and there are people that I trust like Joe Heitzler that are going to take care of the reason that we are all here. I feel he has a very good idea of what the sport needs. I welcome him. My job is taking care of my driving and making the best of what I have and expose my personality to the people.
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We
weren't sure who was happier in Miami that day, Papis for
getting his first win, or Moreno for getting 2nd place.
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Q. Fuel strategy seems to be playing an important role in racing do you think that this is an area that your teams needs to give more consideration to? Would you be in favor of removing fuel restrictions
Papis: Fuel strategy is a part of racing strategy like other things, It plays a good part but, its part of the game we have a good background we know what we need to do. I feel that Ford has been working very hard on the fuel economy situation. I feel confident but it's a game sometimes you win sometimes you lose but most of the time you play with the knowledge you have and make the best out of it .
Q. Would you be in favor of removing fuel restrictions?
Papis: For me it would make no difference it would be taking away something you don't really use to drive, a technical situation. From a driver's stand point it really wouldn't make a difference. If it would make the sport better than I am all for it.
Q. There has been much discussion in the CART community regarding the upcoming race at TMS. Do you feel that there are some valid concerns regarding the safety at this track? Have you talked to your teammate about how it was when he tested there?
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Max Papis
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Papis: I have never been there so I can't really speak about it. Kenny has been there testing and he feels comfortable but on the safety side we should worry much more about other places than just focusing on something because people see 20+ degree banking, its only speculation. I stopped listening to speculation and just check out what the reality is. If the technical people decide that it is good to go there then they should know their job and if they make a mistake then they need to answer the questions that you give them.
Q. In order to win the series championship what areas do you think you need to focus on?
Papis: Last year me and Montoya led the season in DNF'S. I had 12 or 13 and he had something similar we were the guys with the most DNF'S in the series. Previous year I was the one who finished most miles completed and 2nd in the laps led , life can change very fast. I feel consistency is going to be very important, being fast and consistent will be the key no 1st place and then 15th like last year because that will get you know where. Consistency comes if your calm and methodical.
Q. What types of activities or hobbies do you enjoy doing in the off-season?
Papis: Taking my dogs out, going fishing when I am in Italy, or skiing. Just like normal people, I like to go to the clubs, I like to see my friends, skateboarding, snowboarding and the things that crazy kids do.
The author can be contacted at contacts@autoracing1.com
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