Addition of a Couple of Wheels Makes a Big Difference for Ward

INDIANAPOLIS — Wherever Jeff Ward goes, even around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first questions asked are usually about motocross. After all, from 1977 to 1992, he was one of the greatest who ever rode.

Even though he is one of the Indy Racing League’s brightest new stars, his motocross legacy can’t be forgotten. Before Ward made the switch to four wheels, he won seven national championships and became the first rider to win all four of the American Motorcyclist Assn.’s motocross categories: 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and Supercross.

“Racing is racing, but that’s about as far as you can go in comparing riding a bike in motocross and driving an Indy car at Indianapolis,” Ward answers over and over again. “The skills are quite different.

“Motocross consists of high-speed jumps, bumps and tight, twisting turns. Try that in a car and you’re in the wall. The only carryover is in the mentality of a racer, a competitive drive that comes from within. That, and the concentration both demand, are about all there is between the two.”

Ward, who lives in San Juan Capistrano, retired from his Kawasaki at 31 and turned to racing cars.

Last year, driving in only his second Indy car race, he nearly stole the Indy 500 and was named rookie of the year. Despite his success--he was in the lead with only seven laps remaining and finished third--he found himself without a ride the remainder of the season.

This year the Scottish-born driver became a member of Team Tabasco-ISM Racing. In two races, he finished second at Disney World and won the pole and finished fifth at Phoenix.

When it was time to qualify for the Indy 500 last week, Ward had lost two Aurora engines while practicing and did not try on the first day. On the second day, he went out early and qualified easily at 219.086 mph, 10th-fastest of the 33-car field, but because it came on the second day, Ward will start from the ninth row in the 27th position.

“The car stuck like glue, so I was real happy with the run,” he said. “I just have to pass the guys one more time than the leaders do. I like being aggressive on the starts because I like driving on cold tires. I’m just going to pass as many cars as I can on the first couple of laps.

“The most important thing is to win the Indianapolis 500. I came close enough to know what it’s like to run up front. It’s almost like 400 miles of practice and then the race comes with 100 miles to go.

“We just need to stay on the lead lap, make the right pit calls and get the car set up.”

Ward started seventh last year and took over the lead on Lap 142 of the 200-lap race. He and eventual winner Arie Luyendyk swapped the lead twice before Ward took over on Lap 169 and pulled 13 seconds ahead of the field. However, he lost the lead for good when he pitted for a splash of fuel and Luyendyk and runner-up Scott Goodyear did not stop.

“I was sick when I got out of the car,” he said. “I figured we blew it, but later it sunk in what I had accomplished and I was ecstatic about it. The race is won by luck and lost by luck, especially in the last 10 to 20 laps, but it was sure exciting to be out in front.”

Although this is only Ward’s second Indy 500, he has earned a reputation as a teacher.

“I know he’s only been here once before,” rookie teammate Steve Knapp said, “but everything he’s told me, he’s very articulate in what he is saying. I have the confidence to watch him. He can go out there and do a time in my backup car, come in and tell me exactly what it’s doing, and tell me where to drive it, and within three laps I’ll be doing the same thing.

“Having a guy like Jeff with all of his racing experience before Indy really has helped. He is a great tutor, and there’s no egos involved so it’s all real good information that I can use.”

Indianapolis 500 Notes

CART drivers and owners like to say “the best drivers and cars are in CART,” but is that justified? The last time CART drivers were part of the Indianapolis 500 was 1995. A check of that year’s results finds 12 drivers who will be in the Motorola 300 today in St. Louis and nine who are either in, or tried to qualify for, the 500. Who they are and where they finished:

CART--Christian Fittipaldi, 2; Bobby Rahal, 3; Robby Gordon, 5; Mauricio Gugelmin, 6; Bryan Herta, 13; Andre Ribeiro, 18; Scott Pruett, 19; Adrian Fernandez, 21; Jimmy Vasser, 22; Paul Tracy, 24; Michael Andretti, 25; Gil de Ferran, 29.

IRL--Eliseo Salazar, 4; Arie Luyendyk, 7; Roberto Guerrero, 12; Scott Goodyear, 14; Hideshi Matsuda, 15; Raul Boesel, 20; Scott Sharp, 26; Buddy Lazier, 27; Eddie Cheever, 31; Lyn St. James, 32.

Jacques Villeneuve, the current world Formula One champion, won that race, and the Penske drivers of Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi failed to qualify.

The Panther Racing team, with Goodyear as the driver, won the $40,000 Coors Indy Pit Stop contest by changing four tires and simulating a fuel-hose connection for five seconds in a time of 17.3 seconds. And that time included a five-second penalty for a loose lug nut. Runners-up were Team Menard and driver Robbie Buhl.

Indy 500 at a Glance

* When: Sunday

* Time: 8 a.m.

* TV: Channel 7