PAPIS WINS ONE FOR PROS.

Byline: Daily News

LONG BEACH - Celebrities took a crash course in race-car driving a month before Saturday's Pro/Celebrity Race. The celebrities-turned-racers learned about a driver's apex, ``finding a line'' and a few advanced moves.

In the actual race, most of those skills became irrelevant as the drivers braved a wet, dangerous track and drizzle. Celebrities slipped and slid their way through their race as professional driver Max Papis made up the pros' 30-second starting penalty to win the overall race. Papis became the third pro in 11 years to win, and actor Chris McDonald won the celebrity portion.

Afterward, Papis and McDonald drenched themselves in victory champagne, and each took turns lifting female participants in celebration. First, Papis hoisted actress Melissa Joan Hart, then McDonald gave a boost to rap star Lil' Kim.

``Survive,'' McDonald said. ``I survived this race. I didn't win it.''

With an intermittent rain throughout the morning and early afternoon, spinouts and crashes were inevitable for the noon race. McDonald won the celebrity side despite spinning out three times.

Yet no major crash occurred until soap-opera actor Peter Reckell, last year's celebrity winner who raced in the pro category, slammed into turn 1 - the hairpin. His Toyota Celica smoked, and the front of his hood was crushed. That crash happened on the second-to-last lap and was serious enough for the race to be called.

Right after Reckell's wreck, Papis sped by McDonald to take the overall lead, just before officials called the race.

Papis, who received the ``Golden Helmet'' in 1999 as Italy's best driver, deftly passed celebrities to become the first pro since Scott Pruett in 2001 to win the race. But he wasn't too concerned with his performance and was more focused on how Reckell stayed close until the crash.

``Peter was just awesome,'' Papis said. ``He stayed in my mirrors the whole time. He was incredible. Of course, it's nice to win. But it's more about fun, and I'm just amazed at how well he did.''

``Access Hollywood'' reporter Tony Potts started with the celebrity pole position, but he lost the lead during the first lap as Andrew Firestone, from TV's ``The Bachelor,'' passed him on the second straightaway.

Firestone held the lead for five laps until he spun out and Potts regained the lead.

A lap later, Firestone had a golden opportunity to retake the lead when Potts spun out on the hairpin. But then Firestone also spun out, allowing McDonald - best known for supporting roles in the films ``Happy Gilmore,'' ``Quiz Show'' and ``The Perfect Storm'' - to take the lead.

- Joe Stevens

--Fogarty in front row: After taking nearly a year off last season trying to race Champ Cars, Jon Fogarty returned to the Toyota Atlantic series and responded by finishing with the fastest time during the second day of qualifying for the Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Atlantic race.

Fogarty, who won the 2002 Toyota Atlantic championship, finished with a time of 1:29.689 and will start next to pole-sitter Ryan Dalziel when today's race starts at 10:30 a.m.

In 14 career Toyota Atlantic races, Fogarty has finished on the podium seven times and he also has finished in the top five 12 times.

By finishing with the fastest time Saturday, Fogarty also earned his first point in the season series.

The qualifying session was delayed 10 minutes at the beginning because fluid from the Pro/Celebrity race had spilled onto the track in turn 1. Then after that spill was cleaned up, Chris Festa crashed during the first lap, bringing out the red flags and delaying the session another 10 minutes.

By the time the session actually started, drivers had only about 10 minutes to complete their qualifying.

No drivers improved upon their times from Friday, when track conditions were optimal. By virtue of finishing with the best time Friday (1:18.563), Dalziel earned the pole, with Fogarty second and Alex Figge third.

- Ben Villa

--Rain revs up Kendall: Tommy Kendall woke up, looked out the window and saw perfect weather for racing - perfect for him, anyway.

Kendall, who has always raced well in the rain, found the wet conditions to his liking and edged Boris Said on the final lap of qualifying to earn the pole for today's Motorock Trans-Am Series race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

``The rain was too good to be true,'' said Kendall, a La Canada High graduate and Santa Monica resident who returned to Trans-Am this year after six years away from the series. ``I said a little prayer (Friday) night for rain and I woke up and it was raining.''

Kendall, a four-time series champion who has never won at Long Beach, completed the 1.968-mile temporary street course in his Jaguar XKR in 1:44.657 on the final lap of qualifying.

Kendall added to the record he already holds in Trans-Am racing, earning the 40th pole of his career.

- David Felton