Max Papis has been named to a second Cheever Racing car for the 90th Indianapolis 500.

Papis, 36, will attempt to put the No. 52 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone in the 33-car field during qualifications May 20. Practice resumes May 17 (noon EDT, with live streaming video and Timing and Scoring at indycar.com.

It will be the second Indianapolis 500 for Papis, who has competed in Formula One, CART and several sports-car series during a 24-year career. In 2002, Papis also drove for Cheever at Indianapolis, finishing 23rd after starting 18th in the No. 53 Cheever Racing entry.

“I look forward to returning to the Indianapolis 500 to be part of the history and legends that the Speedway has created over the past 90 years,” Papis said.

Cheever practiced last week in the No. 51 Cheever Racing Honda-powered Dallara, recording the 19th-fastest lap of the week before qualifying was postponed. Cheever, the 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner, said he was pleased to have Papis on board.

“Papis drove for Cheever Racing in his rookie race at the ‘500′ and we did not deliver for him when we had mechanical problems with his car,” he said. “I am happy we are able to give him another chance. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and spirit to the program.”

A native of Como, Italy, Papis moved up the ladder of European formulas during his late teens and early 20s before finding a Formula One test ride with Lotus and Honda in 1994. The following year, he competed in seven Formula One races with Arrows. In 1996, Papis posted three wins in IMSA World Sports Car, then joined Championship Auto Racing Teams, where he won three races in five years.

Since then, Papis has been one of the top competitors in American sports-car racing. He posted an overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002, a Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series championship in 2004, and class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona and two runner-up finishes at the 24 Hours of LeMans.

[IndyCar PR]

The IRL is certainly pulling out all the stops to make sure they have a star-studded field…and they definitely accomplished that.