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Sunday, July 01, 2001

Compiled by Chris Dolack

Max Papis won his second career CART race at Portland International Raceway last weekend. He answered questions during a conference call Tuesday:

Max Papis

Q: Do you believe your team can build on its victory in Portland last weekend?

A: I'm very proud of the job we did in Portland. Everyone on the team was working very professionally with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of intensity in order to achieve our goals. Portland has been a trampoline for a lot of great drivers to go for the championship. I can recall that Emerson Fittipaldi won Portland and he went ahead to win the championship. Michael Andretti, Alex Zanardi, too, so I feel that I'm in great company.

Q: Did teammate Kenny Brack's early success overshadow your effort?

A: I don't care for attention. I am myself, and I have my own attention -- I mean, I don't care for the attention. I care for doing the best job I can, perform as a professional person. Of course, I was very happy for Team Rahal. When the situation was coming, I felt positive. I knew we had a good car and good equipment to do a good job. And I know that when I would have had my opportunity with the car setup and the way I wanted, I would have been able to prove my abilities. Well, it was just a matter of time.

Q: With races nearly every weekend now, how do you prepare for each event?

A: I prepared for that this winter, with my training, with my diet, with the way I am. And I just feel that for every great athlete, for every athlete, it's not the last two days before the race that makes the difference, it's preparation all the way that brings you up to that moment. And I feel that I kept working really hard on my body, my brain, and with my team. So I feel that we have all the right cards to play our game and embarrass everybody again. What I think is most tiring is for my crew, for my mechanics, for everybody in my team, especially for my mechanics. I have a lot of respect for them.