Indy 500 - entry update.

The kudos of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 continues to attract sponsorship deals for those lucky enough to make it to the grid - some even on the morning of the race itself.

Among the new announcements for the Memorial Day extravaganza are deals for late qualifiers Billy Boat, Steve Knapp and Lyn St James, while Walker Racing, Richie Hearn and Sam Hornish also benefit from having made the cut earlier in the week.

Harrah's will now sponsor the third AJ Foyt car of Billy Boat, after the Texan's team provided the car which enabled last year's third placed finisher to make the field. Harrah's already sponsors the Foyt car of Jeff Ward this season, and has climbed aboard with Boat after he jumped ship from Team Pelfrey.

Former 500 Rookie of the Year Knapp has picked up backing from the Sonic Drive-In restaurant chain after qualifying the second Dreyer & Reinbold entry in 27th position. The company will also become an associate sponsor of the Purex-backed car of team-mate and IRL series leader Robbie Buhl.

One of two female drivers in the field, St James moves to the Yellow Freight Dick Simon-run car, having qualified in the sister Mexmil machine of Frenchman Stephane Gregoire. Team Xtreme partners Airton Dare and Davey Hamilton also run under new colours, with USACredit.com and FreeInternet.com respectively.

Walker Racing has signed up the Dell Computer Corporation as a technology provider, following its success at getting 19-year old Sarah Fisher into the field, and the announcement that it will run a second car from July's Atlanta round for Jeff Andretti.

Another youngster, Sam Hornish Jr, has picked up sponsorship from the Uniden Corporation for his PDM Racing entry, and CART refugee Richie Hearn has added Curb Records to his Pagan Racing Dallara in deals for the 500 only.