COLUMBIA, S.C. — “Mad Max,” meet the “Lady in Black.”
Former Formula I driver Max Papis got his first peek at one of the NASCAR’s most demanding and daunting challenges Friday at Darlington Raceway.
While the rest of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series was in Richmond International Raceway, Papis took the week off — his No. 13 Toyota team is running a limited schedule — to get a jump on his next assignment of trying to qualify for the Darlington’s Southern 500 on Mother’s Day weekend.
Papis has lined up in many of the world’s most popular series, making two starts in the Indianapolis 500 and winning the Rolex Grand-Am Series championship in 2004. Driving Darlington will be among his highlights, he said.
After cruising his Toyota Tundra pickup over the 1.366-mile layouts misshapen corners and narrow straightaways, Papis was amazed at how demanding Darlington will be.
“After today, my goal is to get in the show and then to have enough sheet metal left on the right side of my car,” Papis said by phone after his session.
Papis came to Darlington with longtime friend Randy LaJoie, the former Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver who won the track’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 in March 1997 in the then Busch Grand National Series.
The two turned some laps with LaJoie giving Papis tips on what he might expect when his team arrives next weekend. “I think this is the most technical track I’ve ever been on,” Papis said.
When the world racing star was asked if any of other track compared to Darlington, he gave a quick and simple, “No.”
Imagine, Papis said, what it will be like next weekend should he make the field and jostle with 42 other racers just as eager as he to race to the front.
Then again, Papis already made it through probably his most harrowing Sprint Cup race at Talladega a week ago. He was caught up in the track’s first “big one,” sustaining significant right side damage after colliding with Kasey Kahne’s car.
Papis narrowly escaped the second major crash nine laps from the finish, pouring through what he said was a wall of smoke to escape. “It was like going from night to sunshine, but all in a second and a half,” he said with a chuckle.
Papis also got through the final accident that sent Carl Edwards airborne and into Talladega’s catch fence to finish 18th, his best performance in his three Sprint Cup events this season.
Papis was the second series newcomer to Darlington to enlist help the past month. Last week, Joe Gibbs Racing’s rising star, Joey Logano, sat in the passenger seat as five-time Southern 500 winner Cale Yarborough showed how to get around.
Papis had to put aside his excitement at simply viewing Darlington, which he’s long considered one of racing’s premiere and challenging courses. “Darlington is known around the world as one of the toughest tracks there is and to race here with all of the history at this place will be a real treat,” he said.
The Italian-born Papis has made over 100 open-wheel racing starts and served as a test driver for NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports.
He’s won three times in the former CART Series and posted two victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Papis and Germain Racing plan 11 more Sprint Cup events. Should things keep improving — Papis has gone from 36th at Las Vegas to 35th at Texas to 18th at Talladega — the 39-year-old Papis figures his presence and profile will grow.
After Friday’s get-to-know-you experience, Papis has a plan for Darlington. “You’ve got to be aggressive,” he said with a matter-of-fact confidence. “If you are too passive and sit back, you can find yourself against the wall.”
And that’s a lesson Papis doesn’t want to learn come race day.
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