Nascar – Max Papis replaces Tony Stewart

Max Papis will return to service this weekend at Watkins Glen. The 43-year-old Italian, who has nearly 35 starts in the Sprint Cup Series, will replace Tony Stewart at the wheel of the No. 14 Chevrolet SS, who fractured his left leg during a Sprint-Car race in Iowa. The former pilot of Formula 1, who took the start of 7 Grands Prix in 1995, will not arrive in unfamiliar territory, since he carried out tests last week on behalf of the Stewart-Haas Racing. Better: he will return to the Watkins Glen road circuit, where in 2009 he achieved his best performance at the highest level of the Nascar thanks to an 8th place. This is the first time since the Michigan event in 2010 that the Como native will start a Sprint Cup Series race. It has not yet been indicated whether Max Papis will be engaged only for this weekend's event or whether the collaboration will last throughout Tony Stewart's convalescence.

Concerning the American, a new operation will be necessary to treat his double fracture, although he already underwent surgery on Monday evening. But on Facebook, the three-time Sprint Cup Series champion gave reassuring news: “I asked someone to give me my phone otherwise I was going to get up on my own to go get it. Here I am finally reconnected to the world and I just want to say thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. My team will stay strong and I will come back. » By being absent this weekend in New York State, Tony Stewart sees his impressive streak of 521 consecutive Sprint Cup starts come to an end. He had never missed a single race since his debut at the highest level of Nascar, which dates back to 1999.