Panther first to file Indy 500 entries.

Just hours after invitations were mailed out to teams, former Indy Racing League champion Panther Racing filed three entries for the 2005 Indianapolis 500.

Officially the first team to enter the 89th running of the race, Panther confirmed cars for 2002 Indianapolis Bank One co-Rookie of the Year Tomas Scheckter and new rookie team-mate Tomas Enge, with the identity of the team's third driver to be named at a later date.

Scheckter will drive the #4 Pennzoil Dallara-Chevrolet in what will be his fourth Indianapolis 500 start, while Enge will pilot the recently-confirmed #2 Rockstar-backed entry. Eric Haverson will act as chief mechanic for Scheckter, with Steve Namisnak performing a similar role for Enge. Both drivers have back-up cars entered for the race, and Buddy Lindblom will be team manager for all three Panther entries.

Scheckter's best finish at Indianapolis remains the fourth place he took with the Ganassi team in 2003, and the South African has twice started tenth, last year and as a rookie in 2002. He was named rookie of the year alongside with Alex Barron in 2002 after leading 85 of the first 172 laps for Red Bull Cheever Racing, before crashing out of the race while leading on lap 173.

All entries for this year's Indy 500 must be postmarked by midnight Wednesday 6 April to be considered.