Second Chance for Indy Ride

Racing for his ailing father, Miami's Max Papis gets surprise berth in 500

BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD, Miami Herald
May 27, 2006
 
INDIANAPOLIS - Max Papis presumed he would watch the Indianapolis 500 from the couch in his Miami home with his wife.
But after reaching an 11th-hour deal, he'll drive for Cheever Racing in Sunday's race.
Owner Eddie Cheever Jr., who is coming out of retirement for the event, had told Papis, ''If I have an opportunity, I'll put you in a car.'' Papis just never envisioned it actually would happen. The 36-year-old, who has driven in Formula One and CART, among other series, came to Indianapolis as a spectator with no intention of getting a ride.
''He's not one to go around begging and asking people for a ride,'' said Papis' wife, Tatiana.
And now that he'll make his second start in the Indy 500, Papis is experiencing a rush of emotions. The bubbly Papis is elated, but also feels a tinge of sadness.
His father, Cesare, who lives in Papis' native Como, Italy, just north of Milan, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December, and doctors told him he had just a few months to live.
''This Sunday he's going to be riding with me,'' said Papis, who will start on the outside of Row 6 (18th). ``People think I'm a fighter, but I'm only one-tenth of my dad.''
 
LAST INDY 500 RUN
Papis has been itching to return to the Indy 500 since a disappointing run in 2002. A brake problem made it difficult for him to get into a rhythm, and he finished four laps down in 23rd.
''I thought, I don't know if I'm going to have the chance again. Every time I thought about the Indy 500 I didn't like the thoughts I had, because we didn't do justice to what we could have done,'' Papis said.
``I didn't want people to think of Max Papis as the guy who just saw the checkered flag in Indianapolis.''
Papis has added motivation because his father-in-law, Emerson Fittipaldi, is a two-time Indy 500 winner and close friend Alex Zanardi is a two-time CART champion who fell short of competing in this race.
A near-fatal racing in 2001 ended Zanardi's Indy 500 hopes because he had to have both legs amputated; to honor Zanardi, Papis will affix a sticker on his helmet featuring American and Italian flags.
''I'm not here just to be here,'' Papis said. ``I need to control the emotion and let the positive vibes and positive emotion push me.''
Papis -- who has won in CART (including his first series win at Homestead in March 2000), the 24 Hours at Daytona in 2002 and twice has been runner-up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans -- grew up dreaming of racing in the Indy 500. He's emphatic when he says he expects to turn heads. He doesn't fear any of the other 32 drivers in the field, adding that he has raced against many of them before.
''He has a lot to prove,'' Cheever said. ``If he gets a good car that he can manhandle, I think he'll be a tough cookie.''
Papis has had little track time, rounding the 2.5-mile oval a total of about 65 times before qualifying on Pole Day last Saturday. Still, Papis insists he'll be in the hunt.
 
DAD ON HIS MIND
Recently, Papis has focused less on racing and more on his father's condition. His father came to Miami two weeks ago to visit and see an oncologist. He continues to undergo chemotherapy, and wanted to make the trip to Indianapolis but came down with a fever.
Cheever said he hasn't noticed a change in Papis' demeanor but knows it must be difficult coping with his father's situation because four years ago, in his last Indy 500 start, his dad was dying.
''I love being around Max,'' Cheever said. ``With Max it's like buying jam in a glass jar. You get what you see.''
Cheever and Papis conversed over milkshakes and discussed the possibility of Papis sliding into the pit. A day later, Cheever informed Papis that Sportclips had agreed to sponsor the No. 52.
This weekend marks the beginning of a whirlwind schedule for Papis, who will return to Miami on Tuesday and depart several hours later for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In July, Tatiana is to deliver their first child, a boy they plan to name Marco.
For now, though, Papis is focused on two things: winning the Borg Warner-Trophy and chugging some milk. If he doesn't find Victory Lane, Papis said it wouldn't crush him. Not when he finally got what he wanted -- a second chance.
''When I chased to be here, it didn't happen. Now it happened because it's meant to happen,'' Papis said, ``and I'm going to make Sunday a day I and everyone else will remember for a long time.''