Courtesy of GM Motorsports

Max "The Ax" Back in a Cadillac at Atlanta

April 14, 2005 - Detroit, Mich. - Cadillac announced today that Max Angelelli will join its CTS-V race team to compete in the SPEED GT race at Road Atlanta on April 17.

Max "The Ax" is back! (Click for larger, Morgan Segal Image)

Angelelli will drive the #12 CTS-V, teaming with Andy Pilgrim and fellow Italian Max Papis in the trio of black Cadillacs. Papis will have a busy weekend, as he is also racing in the International Race of Champions at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night.

"We're glad to have Max behind the wheel of the CTS-V race car again," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "He has been a part of the Cadillac family for several years, and was instrumental in developing the race car. And we'll never forget his tremendous victory at Road Atlanta last year."

Angelelli currently is co-points leader in the Rolex Series Grand Am Daytona Prototype, with two wins in three races. At the SPEED GT Road Atlanta race last September, he captured the pole in his Cadillac, led all 29 laps and went on to win the race over a Porsche 911.

"I remember that race like it was yesterday," said Angelelli. "The excitement of bringing Cadillac back in contention for the championship was tremendous. I think the same kind of feeling will return this weekend. Different tracks favor different cars, and Road Atlanta is definitely a track where the CTS-V performs well."

In 2000, Cadillac chose Angelelli to champion the brand's return to motorsports after a near 50-year absence. A close partner with the Cadillac brand, Angelelli would pilot the Cadillac LMP prototype for all three years of the program and spent the calendar year 2003 working alongside GM Racing engineers to develop what would become the CTS-V race car.

In its debut race at Sebring in March, 2004, Angelelli put the CTS-V on the pole for the SPEED World Challenge GT, and went on to win the race. It was Cadillac's first motorsports victory since 1949.

"Max is a fierce competitor and a great driver," said Andy Pilgrim, driver of the #8 CTS-V. "He is definitely someone you want driving for you, not against you. I guess I'll have to call my teammates by their nicknames - Max the Ax (Angelelli) and Mad Max (Papis) to keep them straight."

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