Max Papis Press Release
Miami, FL (January 21, 2010) - Italian Max Papis, 2004 Grand-Am series champion and two time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, will complete an international drivers lineup for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates at this year’s running of the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, and will share the wheel of the No.01 TELMEX/TARGET car along with American Scott Pruett, Mexican Memo Rojas and Justin Wilson from England. Papis and his teammates will unite for the twice-round-the-clock classic where Max earned the “Mad Max” nickname with a blazing drive on a Ferrari in 1996, and battle for the team’s fourth win.
“I’m excited to be back with Chip Ganassi Racing and Felix Sabates. It still feels like just yesterday when we won the GRAND-AM championship together. I’ve won the Rolex 24 at Daytona twice before, but I feel this is the best chance I’ve had to get back to victory lane here. It’s great to join such a talented driver lineup and I can’t wait to get started and help the team go for a fourth victory.”
Mike Hull, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director: “Max helped us to win a Rolex Championship in 04, which included racing the 24-hour race with us, so that helps to make it a smoother transition with the other drivers and the team.”
The Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend at Daytona International Speedway is set for January 28th-31st. The green flag is scheduled for Saturday, January 30th at 3:30PM ET and it will be televised live on SPEED beginning 3:00 PM ET. Check your local listings for television times on SPEED Channel.
Max Papis competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, with the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry, and in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing, and will be back in a race car in Daytona a few days after the Rolex 24 for the NASCAR Daytona 500. One of the most successful and versatile race drivers in the world, he also has 2 Indy 500 starts; 113 CART starts (with three career victories in 2000 and 2001); three career IMSA World Sports Car Championship Wins (1996); seven Formula 1 GP starts for Arrows-Hart; as well as twenty-two 24 hour races, including nine 24 Hours of Le Mans (twice runner-up with the factory Corvette team) and thirteen Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (two wins, 2000 and 2002). Max, who is also a Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans winner, started karting in 1981, at age 12 – and never stopped: he still keeps sharp by competing with his karting team.
For more information about Max Papis, please visit www.maxpapis.com
You can also follow Max Papis on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maxpapis
Follow the Rolex 24 at Daytona by logging onto the Rolex Sports Car Series website at www.grandamerican.com for free live timing and news.