1. Phoenix open test gets 2017 season rolling2. Tony Stewart Foundation sponsoring Indy 500 entry3. Franchitti, Cheever, McLaren newest Hall of Fame nominees4. Schmidt Peterson adds Copper Moon as official coffee provider5. Green Savoree names PPG Industries official paint sponsor6. Drivers added to Mazda Road to Indy levels

1. Phoenix open test gets 2017 season rolling: For the first time in 2017, all of the full-season entries in the Verizon IndyCar Series gather this week for the open test at Phoenix Raceway.

Twenty-one cars are entered for the two-day test Friday and Saturday on the 1-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona, steeped in Indy car history. From 1964-2005, 61 races were contested on the track, with legendary names the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al and Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford and Rick Mears among the winners.

For the Phoenix Raceway open test entry list, click here.

The Verizon IndyCar Series made a much-anticipated return to Phoenix Raceway in 2016 with another great, Scott Dixon, etching his name into the victory ledger. The driver of the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry recorded his 40th career Indy car win that night, moving the Kiwi into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time chart.

Dixon is among the open test entries this week, his four-car Ganassi team making its first public showing since switching to Honda engines and aero kits for this season. Other notable changes for the test will see Josef Newgarden making his public debut with Team Penske in the No. 2 Chevrolet, while teammate Simon Pagenaud turns his first laps in the No. 1 Chevy signifying his stature as the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion.

Carlos Munoz (No. 14 car) and Conor Daly (No. 4) will take to the track in AJ Foyt Racing's ABC Supply-sponsored entries, now part of the Chevrolet contingent. Reigning Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion Ed Jones is the only current fulltime rookie in the field and is paired with Sebastien Bourdais at Dale Coyne Racing.

Test sessions both days run from 3-6 and 8-11 p.m. ET. Saturday is free to the public, with gates opening at 2 p.m. ET and with an all-driver autograph session taking place between practices. Live video streaming (without commentary) of all practice sessions will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com.

2. Tony Stewart Foundation sponsoring Indy 500 entry: Former Verizon IndyCar Series and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is returning to the Indianapolis 500 - as a car sponsor.

Stewart's charity, the Tony Stewart Foundation, announced Tuesday that it has formed Team One Cure to create awareness, enthusiasm and understanding for the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University that develops cutting-edge cancer treatments for humans and pets.

To raise more awareness of the program, Team One Cure will sponsor the entry for the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda in the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

Stewart, who retired from NASCAR competition following the 2016 season, has long been an advocate for children and animals, especially those facing serious illness. The opportunity to pair Team One Cure with the Indy 500 was one he couldn't pass up.

"We learned that, with the One Cure program, cancer treatment breakthroughs are happening through collaboration between scientists and doctors working with both people and pets," said Stewart, who captured the 1996-97 Verizon IndyCar Series crown before turning his attention to stock cars. "It perfectly fits with my foundation's missions to help children and animals. Sam Schmidt represents the very best in an injured racer overcoming adversity, plus we share the passion to win at IMS."

Schmidt, a quadriplegic as a result of an Indy car testing crash in 2000, has become one of the leading INDYCAR team owners. He also founded Conquer Paralysis Now, the foundation devoted to finding a paralysis cure through increased scientific research.

"Very pleased to be participating in the 101st Running of the Indy 500 with such a fantastic program as Team One Cure," Schmidt said. "Tony is the most generous guy I know in motorsports and his charitable efforts on behalf of children and animals in need is unbelievable, so this is a perfect fit. With the team at Colorado State University making such huge strides in cancer research, this will truly be a cause we can get behind. That, combined with both of our extreme desires to win this race, should make for a really competitive entry."

Indianapolis 500 entries for one-off drivers Juan Pablo Montoya (Team Penske), Oriol Servia (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) and Sage Karam (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) have previously been announced. The driver of the No. 77 Team One Cure/Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda will be named at a future date.

Practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500 begins May 15 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with two days of qualifications set for May 20-21. The race is on May 28 and airs live (11 a.m. ET) on ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network. For ticket information, visit IMS.com.

3. Franchitti, Cheever, McLaren newest Hall of Fame nominees: Two Indianapolis 500 winners and one of the most legendary names in motorsport are the newest nominees for the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. New to the ballot in 2017 are three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and 1998 Indy 500 champion Eddie Cheever Jr., along with legendary driver and ca