31Dec
On Saturday (30th December 2023), it was reported by the motorsports authority in Brazil that the esteemed racer Gil de Ferran tragically passed away due to a heart attack. This incident occurred while he was at a private racing venue in Florida the day before. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he did not pull through.
The racing world is mourning the loss of the well-regarded former champion of the Indianapolis 500, who was 56 years old at the time of his passing. Gil de Ferran was a beloved figure in the racing community and had an admirable tenure in the motorsport industry, including a stint as a sporting director for the BAR/Honda and McLaren Formula One teams.
As tributes pour in, American Honda and Honda Racing Corporation USA have expressed their heartfelt condolences to de Ferran's family, friends, and legions of fans, remembering him as a celebrated Honda Indy car champion, a world record holder, an Indianapolis 500 victor, and the owner of an Acura sports car racing team.
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Gil de Ferran’s Motorsport Legacy
Photo credit: Honda
The Brazilian racing driver, inspired by Emerson Fittipaldi's notable achievements, launched his motorsport journey through the world of kart racing in the early 1980s.
His potential quickly became evident, and by 1987, he had ascended to compete in the Formula Ford category, which set the stage for his advancement to Formula Three by 1991.
In that pivotal year, driving for Edenbridge Racing, he showcased remarkable talent and clinched third place in the competitive British Formula Three season, finishing only behind future motorsport luminaries Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard.
With ambition fueling his drive, the following year marked a significant milestone as he transitioned to Paul Stewart Racing. His talent behind the wheel flourished, leading to a dominant season where he clinched the Formula Three title with an impressive tally of seven victories.
His success continued in the International Formula 3000 series with the same team during the subsequent two years. In 1993, he fought valiantly to a fourth-place finish in the series standings, and the following year, he narrowly missed the championship, securing third in a tightly contested season.
Amidst his rising career, a memorable moment unfolded in 1993 when he was invited to test with the esteemed Footwork Arrows Formula One team, a testament to his growing reputation.
However, an unfortunate mishap occurred as he sustained a head injury from a collision with a truck locker door, an incident that not only physically impeded him but also affected his performance, resulting in less favorable lap times compared to his testing counterpart, Jos Verstappen.
Despite this setback, his determination and skill continued to define his racing career, underscoring his resilience and passion for the sport. In the twilight of 1994, de Ferran received a unique invitation from Hall/VDS Racing to test a CART IndyCar.
Despite initial skepticism from Pennzoil, the team's sponsor, de Ferran's performance secured him a drive for the 1995 season.
Opting for a U.S. venture as Formula One opportunities eluded him, de Ferran clinched the PPG Indy Car World Series Rookie Of The Year award in 1995. Notable was his triumph at Laguna Seca Raceway, a fitting end to a debut season.
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The End Of An Era
Photo credit: Honda
The following year, 1996, brought consistent challenges, with a poignant victory at Cleveland's street circuit, avenging a heartbreak from the previous season. This marked the end of an era as Jim Hall retired, concluding the Pennzoil/VDS IndyCar team.
Despite rumors linking him to the Stewart Grand Prix in Formula One, de Ferran remained in the U.S., joining Walker Racing in 1997. Although runner-up to Alex Zanardi, a victory continued to elude him due to incidents like the one at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The anticipated championship challenge in 1998 faced setbacks, with unreliability, driver errors, and inferior Goodyear tires placing de Ferran 12th in the standings, without a win.
The breakthrough arrived in 1999 at Portland International Raceway, where de Ferran triumphed, marking a turning point. However, it signaled the end of an era as Goodyear and Valvoline left CART after the season.
A New Dawn With Penske
Photo credit: Frontstretch
Transitioning to Marlboro Team Penske in late 1999, de Ferran faced a tragic turn with Greg Moore's fatal crash. In 2000, he set a record-breaking lap speed at California Speedway, securing the series championship.
The Penske years brought two CART titles and an Indy 500 victory, solidifying de Ferran's legacy. His analytical approach drew comparisons to Mark Donohue, and he earned praise for his sportsmanship.
In 2003, despite a broken back, de Ferran triumphed at the emotional 2003 Indianapolis 500. Deciding to retire at the end of the season, he concluded his career with a victory at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003. Subsequently, he ventured into Formula One as Sports Director for BAR-Honda but resigned in 2007.
Fast forward to July 2018, de Ferran assumed the role of sporting director for McLaren, leaving in early 2021. In May 2023, he returned to McLaren in a consultant advisory role amid their restructuring.
His post-retirement ventures included fielding a factory-backed LMP2 class Acura ARX-01b prototype in the American Le Mans Series in 2008, achieving immediate success. In 2009, de Ferran Motorsports played a pivotal role in developing the Acura ARX-02a, securing wins and podium finishes.
Halfway through 2009, de Ferran announced his retirement from driving to focus on expanding his team. Merging with Luczo Dragon Racing in 2010, the team, now de Ferran Dragon Racing, made a mark in the IndyCar scene.
His influence extended beyond racing, as in 2010, de Ferran represented team owner peers on the ICONIC committee. Despite challenges, including the closure of de Ferran Dragon Racing in 2011 and being named one of the 50 greatest drivers never to race in Formula One in 2013, de Ferran's impact on motorsports remains indelible.
Honda Mourns de Ferran
Photo credit: Honda
"All of us at Honda and HRC are deeply saddened by Gil de Ferran's sudden passing," said David Salters, president of HRC US. "Gil was a big part of the Honda racing family and CART heritage. He held a special place in all of our hearts.
His accomplishments, championships, and race victories on the track are well known. Listening to him recount his closed-course record run at Fontana raised the hair on the back of my neck, and does so once again now.
He was an extremely talented man and a brilliant racer. He also played multiple, vital roles off-track for Honda over the years. "But above all, he was a loving husband and father. Our thoughts now are with his wife Angela and children Luke and Anna; as well as the rest of his family, friends, and many fans around the world."
Though de Ferran never competed in Formula One races, he made a significant mark in American motorsports, participating in the IndyCar/Cart series from 1995 to 2003.
During this period, he achieved back-to-back Cart championships in 2000 and 2001 and seized victory at the prestigious Indy 500 with Team Penske in 2003. His passing is deeply felt across the racing community, especially in Florida where he spent his final moments.
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