THE SIDELINES : Indy Winner Joins Rookie in 500

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva and Belgian driver Didier Theys, who finished 20th as a rookie last year, will drive a pair of Penske-Buick race cars entered today by the Granatelli Racing team for the May 27 race.

Sneva is the third former winner to enter, joining Al Unser and Mario Andretti. The entry deadline is midnight April 2.

Sneva, 41, won the 500 in 1983 and finished second three times in his 16 Indy starts. In 1977 he became the first driver to top 200 m.p.h. in qualifying, and he has started from the pole position three times.

Theys, 33, was knocked out of his rookie race last year after 131 laps with engine problems. His best finish of the season was ninth at Detroit.