Gil de Ferran, 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time CART collection champion died on Friday at 56. The French-born driver, who raced beneath the Brazilian flag all through a profession that spanned over twenty years, reportedly suffered a coronary heart assault whereas racing along with his son on the Concours Membership close to Miami.
“It’s heartbreaking to be taught of the lack of Gil de Ferran. His accomplishments on the racetrack have been vital, however I, together with so many in our paddock, have been lucky to know the way great he was as an individual. Gil was a real INDYCAR ambassador whose attraction and wit have been second to none. Our condolences are with the de Ferran household throughout this tough time.” mentioned Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Leisure.
Along with his triumph in ’03, de Ferran was a mainstay in American open-wheel racing all through the late 90s and early 2000s, competing in each CART and the IRL, capturing 12 wins throughout the collection. The Brazilian most notably discovered success with Workforce Penske (then often called Penske Racing), even staying with Penske and teammate Helio Castroneves when the group switched from CART to IRL earlier than the 2002 season.
de Ferran bought his begin within the decrease single-seater ranks in Europe, with average success. He received the 1992 British System Three championship and competed in System 3000 all through 1993 and 1994, ultimately testing with the Footwork Arrows System One in ’93. de Ferran’s first shot in America got here with Corridor/DVS Racing, which led to at least one win and Rookie of the Yr honors for the Brazilian.
One other win ensued in 1996 for de Ferran, earlier than two consecutive winless seasons in 1997 and 1998. The flip of the century introduced a change of tempo, as de Ferran partnered with the late Greg Moore, and later a then-unknown Castroneves at Penske. In 2000, the French-born Brazilian set the report for the quickest velocity ever on a closed course throughout qualifying at California Speedway. At 241.428 mph, it’s a report that also stands to today.
de Ferran captured two wins in each 2000 and 2001 on his option to back-to-back championships, turning into the primary Brazilian CART champion since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989. A couple of extra wins got here by after Penske’s transfer to the IRL, as de Ferran cemented himself as one of many collection’ high oval drivers.
That legacy become legend at Indianapolis in 2003 as de Ferran fended off back-to-back defending Indy 500 winner and Penske teammate Castroneves. In a post-race interview, he confirmed off a few of his trademark humor and humility.
“It’s exhausting to explain in phrases what I’m feeling proper now, it’s such an unbelievable second for me. You all the time dream of profitable a race like this and to say one thing good… however I’m afraid phrases escape me proper now.
– Gil de Ferran after profitable the 2003 Indianapolis 500
2003 turned out to be de Ferran’s final season behind the wheel of an Indy automotive. He capped off his ninth and closing marketing campaign in the one acceptable manner – with one closing win at Texas Motor Speedway.
However Gil caught round each Indy and racing as a complete as much as his passing. He served in numerous adversarial roles all through the late 2000s and 2010s with Honda and McLaren in F1, together with de Ferran Dragon Racing for a number of seasons in IndyCar. He additionally performed a vital function in growing the collection’ new chassis in 2012.
de Ferran returned to racing in 2008 with the American Le Mans Sequence, competing as each proprietor and driver for de Ferran Motorsports, discovering success in each the LMP1 and LMP2 lessons with teammate Simon Pagenaud.
Reactions
Pagenaud was one of many first to pay tribute to de Ferran on social media late Friday night time:
Fellow countryman and pal Tony Kanaan expressed his love for GDF as effectively:
