Papis Drives Like a Pro in Victory

Max Papis, who less than a year ago was driving in the Champ Car World Series -- and wouldn’t mind rejoining the open-wheel brigade -- showed the amateurs how things should be done Saturday when he won the pro-celebrity race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Papis, after observing the 30-second handicap required of the pro drivers, threaded his way through the field of 13 celebrity racers, passing actor Chris McDonald for the lead on what proved to be the last lap. That left McDonald as the celebrity winner.

The race, with all drivers in identical Toyota liftback sedans, was to have been 10 laps over the 1.968-mile seaside course but was cut a lap short because of emergency equipment on the track after soap actor Peter Reckell, last year’s winner competing as a pro, had hit the wall in Turn 1.

An unhurt Reckell was only one of several drivers confounded by intermittent rain on an already wet track. Slides into the tire walls were frequent.

Not that the wetness bothered Papis, driving professionally this season in several major sports car series.

“I was just trying to have a very good time with Peter,” he said. “I told everyone before the race that the key in the rain was to drive fast but smooth.”

Actor Sean Astin took good-natured exception to that, saying, “You lie, Max. I was the smoothest guy out there and I came in fourth [among the celebs].”

McDonald, though, proved Papis’ point.

“I saw Max coming, and I pushed too hard and spun out yet again,” he said. “I spun three times, twice in Turn 3. [Fans] got a real show over there.”

Papis, who intends to spend most of the season driving a Lexus for Chip Ganassi in a new NASCAR-related Grand-Am Series, said he was satisfied with his situation but added, “If a good opportunity comes up [in open-wheel racing] I’ll consider it.... If Chip is looking for a third driver [at Indianapolis] I’m available. He knows that.

“But I’m happy where I am. The last couple of years, I was too quick to take some deals, and that wasn’t always best.”

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Tommy Kendall, four-time Trans-Am sedan champion returning to competition after more than a five-year retirement, showed no apparent effects of the long layoff. Kendall, driving a Jaguar XKR, won the pole -- a record 40th -- for today’s Motorock Trans-Am with a fast lap of 67.695 mph.

“This was better than I could have imagined,” said Kendall, who doubles as a motor sports TV commentator. “When I found out I was on the pole, it hit me kind of hard. I choked up.”

Boris Said was second-fastest in a Ford Mustang, and Jorge Diaz was third in a Jaguar. Paul Gentilozzi, part owner of Champ Car World Series and owner of Kendall’s car, was fourth-fastest in another Jaguar.

Morning rain was just what Kendall had hoped for.

“I went to bed praying for rain,” he said. “I’ve always been quick in the rain. The secret in rain is looking in weird places for grip. I’ve always been able to find it.”

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Jon Fogarty, series champion in 2002, won the pole for today’s Toyota Atlantic race, turning a fast lap of 78.993 mph.

Toyota Atlantic is the feeder series for Champ Car World Series. A.J. Almendinger, winner here and series champion last season, will be making his champ car debut today in the main event.

Scotsman Ryan Dalziel was second-fastest at 78.978 and Rocky Moran Jr. of Coto de Caza third at 78.711.

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Times motorsports writer Shav Glick, who has covered the Grand Prix since its inception in 1975 -- he missed one race when he was on another racing assignment -- was honored as the 2004 recipient of the Allen Wolfe Spirit of the Grand Prix award.

Wolfe, who died in 1999, covered the first 24 Grands Prix for the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

The award is given to someone whose efforts at the event reflect Wolfe’s enthusiasm for the race.