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| LeadFoot26 |
(May 9, 2007 7:26:52 PM) |
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Hey Max, great job at VIR. What's your favorite thing about coming to The Glen? |
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Max_Papis |
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I do enjoy the race fans. They are very knowledgable and kind people. The track is one of the most challenging tracks in the nation. It is a pleasure to run at a track such as The Glen. |
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SwimRacer |
(May 9, 2007 7:28:31 PM) |
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What's it like driving with Colin Braun? |
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Max_Papis |
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He's definitely a very young and talented driver. He's going to have a great future ahead of him. He has a completely different driving style from mine. We work very hard to find a good compromise in the set up of the car. We have made a huge improvement the last few races. We are really close to a winning combination and hope it will happen soon. |
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| LeadFoot26 |
(May 9, 2007 7:30:32 PM) |
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Think we'll ever see you in an IndyCar at The Glen? |
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Max_Papis |
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I was really close in getting into a car for the Indy 500. We just couldn't find the right combination to be successful. IndyCar is always in my blood. They are definitely the fastest and most challenging cars I have every driven. I want to win the Grand-Am championship again and am going to do whatever it takes to bring a championship to Krohn Racing. That is one of the reasons I did not to Indy this year. I would have only done it if it would have enhance the things I am already doing and not taking away from my goal of a Grand-Am championship. |
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SwimRacer |
May 9, 2007 7:32:18 PM |
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What is the most challenging aspect of The Glen? |
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Max_Papis |
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The Glen is a very, very long race track. It has very fast corners and you need to commit before you even get into the corner. It is an amazing race track. It is one of the few race tracks in the world that it is a pleasure to be on because it is a driver's track. It's like one of those exotic races that only the top winners have won at and I am very proud to have my name as a champion at The Glen. |
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DavidSheets |
May 9, 2007 7:34:24 PM |
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What is it going to take to get more fan support of GrandAm? Do we need more races on the same weekends as NASCAR? I think there are two this year: The glen in Aug, and Daytona in July. |
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Max_Papis |
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I think we just need a little bit of time. It is a new form of racing. 2004 was the first year of the Daytona Prototypes. If you look at the progress they've made in two years it's really remarkable. We started with 4 DP's in 2003 and this year in Daytona we had over 30. The races are awesome. The competition is the best
competition I have ever had in the last few years of racing. It will be nice to have 100 more horsepower in the cars. That should help show more driver skill. |
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LeadFoot26 |
May 9, 2007 7:37:04 PM |
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Are there any similarities between the COT and a DP? |
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Max_Papis |
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It's basically like comparing an apple and an orange. The power to weight ration is just huge. The stock car is heavier and has more horsepower while the DP is much lighter. It is a very different driving technique. It is an honor to be a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports and I'm making sure everyone there will get the best of the best. Hopefully I can help continue their domination. |
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| SwimRacer |
May 9, 2007 7:38:12 PM |
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Does Emerson Fittipaldi every try to give you advice? |
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Max_Papis |
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Emerson is the father of my wife and it is super cool to have a 2-time Indy 500 winner and 2-time F-1 champion share his advice with me. This is especially true with the way I behave with his daughter. We have a great relationship especially since my father passed away in December. He has become a second father. |
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DavidSheets |
May 9, 2007 7:42:29 PM |
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I think the DP class is obviously the best, but on a couple of races they split the GT and DP cars. Most of the GT drivers I talked to like that, but it seems that the fans Don't like it, and a fair amount of the DP drivers don't like it. So why do it? That's what makes sports car racing fun to watch. I love to watch the mixed classes of cars. What about you? |
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Max_Papis |
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I think the reason they split is mainly logistics especially the short tracks. It's just too many cars to put on the same track . Grand-AM is endurance racing so I want to see GT and DP race together. It is more interesting to have both classes run at the same time and it gives more opportunity for a great show. We can use the GT cars as an advantage but sometimes they can be a disadvantage. |
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Max_Papis |
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The most impressive car is the 950 horsepower Champ Car that I drove. It is definitely one of the best sensations I have ever had in my career and it definitely my favorite. |
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LeadFoot26 |
May 9, 2007 7:43:32 PM |
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Where you living now? |
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Max_Papis |
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I have been living in Miami for over 5 years and I just moved to Charlotte in North Carolina. It is an awesome place to live. It's only 2 and a half hours from my race shop and 20 minutes from Hendrick. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:44:30 PM |
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What do you like to do when you're not at the track to try and get your mind off of racing? |
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Max_Papis |
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I like to think of myself like a farmer. I like to work in the garden and the grass. One of my goals is to have a ranch. I will definitely retire on a ranch. I want to live on a ranch. |
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DavidSheets |
May 9, 2007 7:46:31 PM |
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Why isn't there more fan apparel for the GrandAm teams? I can't find hardly anything, such as crew-shirts and flags, etc. I've had to bum stuff off of drivers and crew members. How does GrandAm expect to build a fan base if the teams don't have fan swag? |
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Max_Papis |
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I think this goes back to Grand-Am starting in 2004. We have to walk before we can run. If you give it about a month to a month and a half you will be able to purchase pretty much any merchandise you want on MaxPapis.com. Also, all profits will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:48:53 PM |
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Any chance we will see you in some form of NASCAR racing soon? |
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Max_Papis |
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I would like to do that a lot, especially starting with the road courses, namely Montreal and Watkins Glen. But I want to have a good car before I decide to run. There is a good opportunity that you wil see me in NASCAR this year but nothing is finalized. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:49:53 PM |
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Do you have any pre-race rituals, or special things you do before each race to get yourself mentally prepared? |
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Max_Papis |
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I try to give myself enough time to, in my mind, be focused so that I am ready to give 100%. I'm not really supersticious. |
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DavidSheets |
May 9, 2007 7:54:15 PM |
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Do you think GrandAm is too quick to hand out driving penalties? I know the cars are carbon fiber, but a little door-banging is fun to watch. I'd actually like to see the cars made out of sheet metal, as apposed to carbon fiber, to allow a little more door banging. I know, I know, it's sports car racing, but we are in America afterall, and this isn't ALMS. |
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Max_Papis |
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I would say that Grand-Am has been watching very closely for using the side of a car to make a pass versus pushing someone off of the racetrack. I am in favor of using your side to make a pass but very against using it to push someone off of the track. The penalties have been a little stiff though. I think they have hurt the show in some instances but it can be very tough to make a judgement. Being fair 100% is very tough but I certainly don't think Grand-AM is trying to punish anyone or ruin the show. They want to see good, hard passes but no one taking advantage of hard bodies. I do think it's better that the bodies are carbon fiber versus sheet metal. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:55:07 PM |
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What is your fondest memory at Watkins Glen? |
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Max_Papis |
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I would say 1996. While in the lead with my Ferrari I got taken out by Wayne Taylor with 20 laps to go. I was in the twenties but I passed my way to the front and took the lead with 1 lap to go. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:56:04 PM |
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Outside of racing, who do you admire most in sports? |
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Max_Papis |
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Lance Armstrong. He is a legend and a great athlete. He is showing the world that there is a lot more than just a time and a stop watch. He is a great human being. Very inspirational. |
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DavidSheets |
May 9, 2007 7:58:23 PM |
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I have to admit, it would be neat to see both you and Scott Pruett in a NASCAR race, but to be honest, GrandAm can't afford to loose the few marque drivers it has...Max Angelelli, you, Scott Pruett..etc. If you guys leave, then what happens to GrandAm? Don't you think GrandAm needs some more popular drivers to come on board? |
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Max_Papis |
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I think that Grand-AM is bringing more teams into the series. And I want to say thank you for considering me as one of the marque names. That means a great deal to me. It would be great to have drivers such as myself, Scott, Paul Tracy, Dario Franchitti and others race at The Glen. It happens in Daytona so Grand-Am will continue to attract some big names. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 7:59:44 PM |
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What is your favorite personal car to drive, and why? |
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Max_Papis |
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ZO6 Corvette. We developed it from my relationship with General Motors. I also have an H1 Hummer which I like a lot. |
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pumagirl |
May 9, 2007 8:00:49 PM |
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Max - During a driver change, which is harder, getting in the car or climbing out? |
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Max_Papis |
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Definitely getting into the car. It is very complicated. You have to do it super quickly and position yourself in the correct way to get the seat belt on. Driver changes happen in 25 seconds. |
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MattC |
May 9, 2007 8:02:07 PM |
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When your have a teammate in the car, and you're waiting for your next stint, what do you do to keep focused? |
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Max_Papis |
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The mind is always on the racing when I am at the race track. I'm watching the lap times and listening to the conversation between the engineers and my teammate. I also try to anticipate what I will do on the race track. It is a very nerve racking time. Seems like it takes forever to get back in the car. |
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Max_Papis |
May 9, 2007 8:04:40 PM |
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Unfortunately it is time for me to leave. Thank you so much for coming here and chatting with me. My wife is ready for dinner and with a 10 month old son, Marco, time is of the essence. I want to personally thank all of you for your support through the years and I want to promise you that while I am on the race track you will have total commitment and 110%. Thank you for your support and see you in the winner's circle. |
