Papis returns to Indy with Cheever

A handful of other cars are available and could be filled before Saturday, including a fourth entry from Vision Racing.

The most coveted entry - the No. 33 of Target Chip Ganassi Racing - will not be fielded by the team but is available for leasing, team officials said. However, as of Tuesday, the car had not been leased.

Practice resumes Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's qualifying session, in which IRL IndyCar Series officials will attempt to fill the entire 33-car starting grid. The first two days of qualifying were rained out last weekend.

Papis, the 36-year-old veteran of Formula One, CART and sports-car racing, will drive the No. 52 Cheever Racing Honda/Dallara. It will be the second Indy 500 for Papis, who also drove for team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. in the 2002 Indy 500.

"I look forward to returning to the Indianapolis 500 to be part of the history and legends that the track has created over the past 90 years," Papis said in a statement released late Tuesday.

Cheever practiced last week in the No. 51 Cheever Racing Honda/Dallara, recording the 19th-fastest lap of the week before qualifying was postponed. Cheever, the 1998 Indy 500 winner, said he wanted to give Papis another chance after his 23rd-place finish in 2002.

"We did not deliver for him when we had mechanical problems with his car," Cheever said. "I am happy we are able to give him another chance. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and spirit to the program."

Twenty-seven drivers were on the track last week during practice and rookie orientation. Seven more, including Papis, are expected to join the preparations this week.

Two unnumbered "TBA" cars on the entry list - Panther Racing and Marlboro Team Penske - are not expected to be used, nor is the Hemelgarn Racing No. 93. That leaves the No. 48 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises and the No. 22 of Vision Racing as possible 11th-hour entries.

A.J. Foyt IV, who recently lost his ride in the NASCAR Busch Series, was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the weekend, but it's not clear whether he will return to the team for the 500.