Papis To Drive #52 Cheever Racing Entry at Indy

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 16, 2006) -- Max Papis, the versatile driver of
open-wheel and sports-car racing, has been hired to drive a second Cheever
Racing entry for the Indianapolis 500.

Papis, 36, will attempt to put the No. 52 Cheever Racing Honda/Dallara in
the 33-car field when qualifying begins Saturday for the 90th running of the
historic race. The first two days of qualifying were rained out last
weekend.

It will be the second Indy 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 Eddie Cheever Jr. at Indianapolis, finishing 23rd after
starting 18th in the No. 53 Cheever Racing entry.

³I 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 years²
Papis said.

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 was pleased to have Papis on
board.

³Papis 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. I am happy we
are able to give him another chance. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and
spirit to the program² Cheever said.

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. Papis also drives in the Crown Royal IROC Series and
does road course testing in NASCAR.

Cheever Racing will return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday to
resume preparations for Saturdayıs qualifying session and the May 28 race.