IRL: Jeff Ward to Drive for Pagan Racing
26 March 1999
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In an announcement made last week, Ward is slated to drive the Pagan Racing entry in the next three rounds of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League Championship Series.
"The initial agreement is for Phoenix, Charlotte and the Indy 500," said team co-owner Allan Pagan. "We want to continue the association past Indy, but that will depend on funding. We will be working hard to turn this into a permanent and successful partnership."
"We think that Jeff Ward is one of the best drivers out there," Pagan said. "He has continued to demonstrate his speed, tenacity, and determination throughout his motorsport career. He was one of the winningest and most successful motorcycle racers in history, and we feel his potential has barely been tapped when it comes to auto racing."
Ward recently visited the Pagan Racing shops to get fitted for the team's Dallara. "I spent two days there, Sunday and Monday," Ward said. "We had to pour a new seat because I've been driving a G Force. We got all the pedals fitted and we have everything taken care of comfort-wise.
Ward is confident that the switch to the Dallara will be smooth. "I drove the Dallara at Las Vegas at the end of 1997," said Ward. "I had never been to that track, or in that car and it wasn't a problem. We were quick right away. I led the race and could have won it if I didn't have a water pump go out.
"We know what the set up is going to be," Ward explained. "These cars have been around long enough that everybody's got a handle on them. We know what we need to start off with. The biggest challenge will be chasing the track with the Craftsman Trucks, and the Winston West Series, that are going to be there."
Ward looks forward to returning to Phoenix where he made his oval track debut driving an Indy Lights car in 1993. "It was only my second car race," Ward said. "I qualified on the front row and finished fourth so I tend to like that track. It's a fun track to drive. There are good passing areas and that's what makes it a fun track."
Ward's only visit to Phoenix in an IRL car came one year ago. He sat on the pole after recording a lap at 172.753 mph, a new track record for the current Indy Racing League cars.
In the first race of this season, at Walt Disney World, Ward started sixth and finished third. He is currently fourth in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League point standings.
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