Jeff Ward had a pair of seconds and a third for ISM Racing in '98 and is back for the '99 Pep Boys season. He also led second most laps (326) last season. Captured rookie-of-the-year at Indianapolis in 1997 with third place finish. Seven-time AMA motocross champion with 74 victories.

Ward definitely has what it takes to become yet another first-time winner in the Indy Racing League and knows his way around Indianapolis Motor Speedway despite his short career there.

Ward made a lot of noise in his three IRL races of the 1996-97 season. Despite a poor finish as Galles Racing's injury substitute in Orlando (16th place), Ward returned with Team Cheever at Indianapolis. All he did there was lead 49 laps and take Rookie of the Year honors, finishing in third place and on the lead lap. Ward then ran Indy Lights until the IRL finale in Las Vegas. He started 12th but carved his way to the front of the field by lap 5. He led 41 laps, but never fully recovered from a drive-thru penalty. A gearbox problem finally knocked him out after 168 laps.

Ward is a former Motorcross champion. He has won the AMA's National 250cc Motocross and Supercross crowns.

In 1989 he captured the AMA National 500cc Motocross championship to become first rider in history to win every major AMA national motocross title. In 1990 he was named AMA Athlete of the Year and became the first rider to win seven national titles with one manufacturer (Kawasaki).

He drove Indy Lights sporadically from 1992 to 1994. He passed his driver's test at Indianapolis in 1995 but failed to qualify.

Sources: Star/News and SpeedNet staff reports.