Cheever to make cockpit return

Autosport.com has learned that Cheever, 48, will announce Tuesday his intention to compete in at least the first four races of the IRL IndyCar Series season, including the 90th Indianapolis 500, in a car fielded by his Cheever Racing team.

The 1998 winner of the Indy 500, Cheever hasn't raced in the IRL since the season finale in 2002. Since then, Cheever Racing has fielded cars driven by Buddy Rice (2002-03), Alex Barron (2004-05), Ed Carpenter (2004) and Patrick Carpentier (2005).

Cheever raced in the first F1 Masters event in November in South Africa, then raced with his Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series team in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Sponsorship for the No. 51 Dallara/Honda will be announced soon, sources said. A second car is expected for Indianapolis, but the driver has not been determined.

Cheever recently formed an Indy Pro Series team with 20-year-old Chris Festa as its driver. His two-car Grand Am team at Daytona featured Carpentier, Christian Fittipaldi, Stefan Johansson, Tommy Erdos, Warren Hughes and Mike Newton as drivers.

Born in Phoenix and raised in Italy, Cheever raced in Formula One for 13 years before returning to the U.S. to race Indy-style cars. He was named rookie of the year at the 1990 Indy 500. Six years later, he sided with the Indy Racing League in the open-wheel split and formed his own team.

Cheever won the first IRL race under its non-aspirated engine formula in 1997 at Orlando, then won the 1998 Indy 500. In 70 IRL races, he has won five times and finished as high as third in final standings (2000).