Gil de Ferran

File:Gil De Ferran Penske 2001.jpg

De Ferran's car in 2001

File:Gil de Ferran waving.jpg

De Ferran at the 2005 United States Grand Prix

Gil de Ferran (11 November 1967 – 29 December 2023) was a Brazilian professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for Team Penske and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.<ref name="NYT Aug. 31">Template:Cite news</ref> He also finished runner-up in the American Le Mans Series LMP1 class in 2009, with his own de Ferran Motorsports.

Early career

Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi,<ref name="NYT July 24">Template:Cite news</ref> de Ferran began his career in kart racing in the 1980s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won the Formula Ford championship in Brazil in 1987, and started racing in the Formula Three class in 1991.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Driving for Edenbridge Racing, de Ferran finished the 1991 British Formula Three season in third, only behind Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For the 1992 season, de Ferran moved to Paul Stewart Racing and won the title, scoring seven wins in the process.<ref name=":2" />

In 1993 and 1994, de Ferran drove for Paul Stewart Racing in the International Formula 3000.<ref name=":2" /> De Ferran finished fifth in the series in 1993 and then took the championship down to the wire in 1994, ultimately finishing third.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1993, de Ferran tested for the Footwork Arrows Formula One team along with Dutch racer Jos Verstappen.<ref name=":7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> His day was seriously compromised after he bumped his head while walking near the motorhome, with de Ferran recalling the incident as follows: "I was walking between two of the trucks, looking down thinking, this is not going so well. And I hit my head on a swing-up locker door on the side of the truck. Split my head open, blood everywhere, game over."<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His times also compared poorly to Verstappen's.<ref name=":7" />

IndyCar

In 1994, de Ferran was invited to test a CART IndyCar by Hall/VDS Racing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the worries of the team's sponsor Pennzoil that de Ferran was not a famous enough name for their car, the team was sufficiently impressed to offer de Ferran a drive for 1995.<ref name=":4" /> With no top-line Formula One drive available, de Ferran took up the offer to drive in the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After dominating the Cleveland CART PPG Indy Car World Series race he would be taken out while trying to lap Scott Pruett.<ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He would score his first win in the last race of the year at Laguna Seca Raceway.<ref name=":6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the win, De Ferran placed 14th in the 1995 PPG Indy Car World Series, and won the PPG Indy Car World Series Rookie Of The Year award.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

In 1996, de Ferran was a consistent challenger but only scored one win, at Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport street circuit, avenging the previous season's loss at the same race.<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This win was also the last for veteran car owner and driver Jim Hall who retired from the sport at the end of 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hall's retirement also spelled the end of the Jim Hall owned Pennzoil/VDS IndyCar team.<ref name=":2" /> Despite rumours that he would be a driver for the new Stewart Grand Prix Formula One team, de Ferran remained in the U.S. for 1997, joining Walker Racing.<ref name=":2" /> De Ferran finished 1997 as runner-up to Alex Zanardi with twelve top-ten finishes but failed to score a single victory.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He looked on course to win the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway but was knocked out of the lead by Dennis Vitolo, who was a lap down from de Ferran.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the Grand Prix of Portland he lost out to PacWest Racing's Mark Blundell in the closest finish in CART history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The expected championship challenge never materialized in 1998. Unreliability, driver errors and the inferior performance of the Goodyear tires compared to the superior Firestone tires all combined to leave de Ferran 12th in the standings, again with no wins on the year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1999, the long-awaited breakthrough finally came as de Ferran beat Juan Pablo Montoya at Portland International Raceway to take his first win since 1996 and the Walker Racing team's first since early 1995.Template:Cn However, after that victory, both Goodyear and Valvoline left CART as major sponsors and suppliers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Toward the end of that season, de Ferran and Greg Moore were signed to Marlboro Team Penske to replace Al Unser Jr.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, Moore was killed in a crash during the season finale at California Speedway and de Ferran's fellow countryman Hélio Castroneves was announced as the replacement for Moore shortly afterwards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 28 October 2000, during CART qualifying at California Speedway in Fontana, de Ferran set both the track record and closed course record for fastest lap at Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of December 2022, this stands as the fastest qualifying lap speed ever recorded at an official race meeting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He would follow the record speed by winning the series championship at Fontana on 30 October (The season finale started on 29 October but was forced to finish on 30 October due to rain).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

With Team Penske, de Ferran won two CART titles and an Indy 500 victory.<ref name="Associated Press Obit" /> His analytical approach earned him comparisons with Penske's first driver, Mark Donohue.<ref name=":3" /> In 2003, de Ferran was injured during a race at Phoenix, suffering a broken back.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the injury, de Ferran passed his teammate, Castroneves with 31 laps left to win the 2003 Indianapolis 500.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also was the second 1–2 finish for Penske Racing in the Indianapolis 500.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following his Indianapolis triumph de Ferran decided to retire at the end of 2003.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won his final race at Texas Motor Speedway,<ref name=":9">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although the moment was soured by a crash during the race that left fellow Indy 500 winner and Rahal-Letterman Racing driver Kenny Bräck seriously injured.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> De Ferran would finish second in the championship standings, runner-up to Scott Dixon.<ref name=":9" />

In July 2013, Autosport magazine named de Ferran one of the 50 greatest drivers to have never raced in Formula One.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Managerial career

In 2005, he moved to the BAR-Honda Formula One team as their Sports Director.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He resigned from this position in July 2007 after becoming "increasingly uncomfortable" with the team.<ref name="autosport_16july07">Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2018, de Ferran was made sporting director for McLaren following Eric Boullier's resignation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He left the team in early 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2023, McLaren had brought back de Ferran in a consultant advisory role as part of their restructure process.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 29 January 2008, de Ferran announced that he would return to the cockpit and field a factory-backed LMP2 class Acura ARX-01b prototype in the American Le Mans Series, under the team name de Ferran Motorsports.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team began competing around the mid-way point of the 2008 season, with de Ferran running the team and sharing driving duties with Simon Pagenaud.<ref>Olson, Jeff. De Ferran to Become Acura Owner/Driver Template:Webarchive, SpeedTV.com, 29 January 2008</ref> In its debut season, de Ferran Motorsports took four front row grid positions, led six races and scored three podium finishes in just eight starts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2009, de Ferran Motorsports was chosen by Honda to develop the Acura ARX-02a for competition in the LMP1 division of the American Le Mans Series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team scored five outright wins, seven poles, and finished runners up in the ALMS LMP1 class.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In August 2009, de Ferran announced his retirement at the end of the racing season, expressing his intention to concentrate all his resources on expanding his team, making public his desire to return to IndyCar racing as a front running team owner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Prior to the start of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season, de Ferran merged his team with Luczo Dragon Racing, a team started by Jay Penske, the son of de Ferran's former boss Roger Penske, and Steve Luczo, a successful technology leader and racing enthusiast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The new team was named de Ferran Dragon Racing and was the realization of de Ferran's ambition to return to IndyCar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> De Ferran Dragon Racing, with driver Raphael Matos, earned four Top Ten finishes in its debut campaign and finished seventeenth in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2010, IndyCar also began planning for a completely new car concept, to debut during the 2012 season.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> De Ferran was part of the ICONIC committee in the development of the future IndyCar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011 de Ferran Dragon racing closed its doors after lacking sponsorships, having attempted to stay operational for the new season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life and death

De Ferran was born on 11 November 1967 in Paris, France.<ref name="Deadline-obit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his English wife Angela (who worked for Paul Stewart Racing)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and their two children.<ref name=":2" />

De Ferran died on 29 December 2023, at age 56. He suffered a heart attack while driving at a private event with his son at The Concours Club in Opa-locka, Florida.<ref name="Associated Press Obit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="motorsport.com-obit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Motorsports career results

Complete British Formula Three Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	DC	Pts
1991	Edenbridge Racing	Mugen-Honda	SIL Template:Small	THR	DON Template:Small	BRH Template:Small	BRH Template:Small	THR Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	DON Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	SNE Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	BRH Template:Small	DON Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	THR Template:Small	3rd	54	Template:Citation needed
1992	Paul Stewart Racing	Mugen-Honda	DON Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	THR Template:Small	BRH Template:Small	THR Template:Small	BRH Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	DON Template:Small	SNE Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	PEM Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	DON Template:Small	THR Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	1st	Template:Tooltip	Template:Citation needed
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Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	DC	Points
1993	Paul Stewart Racing	DON Template:Small	SIL Template:Small	PAU Template:Small	PER Template:Small	HOC Template:Small	NÜR Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	MAG Template:Small	NOG Template:Small	4th	21
1994	Paul Stewart Racing	SIL Template:Small	PAU Template:Small	CAT Template:Small	PER Template:Small	HOC Template:Small	SPA Template:Small	EST Template:Small	MAG Template:Small		3rd	28
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Complete American Open Wheel Racing results

(key)

CART

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Rank	Points	Ref
1995	Hall/VDS Racing	8	Reynard 95i	Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8 t	MIA Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	NHM Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small					14th	56	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Hall/VDS Racing		Reynard 96i	Honda HRH V8 t	MIA Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	MIS1 Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS2 Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small						6th	104	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1997	Walker Racing	5	Reynard 97i	Honda HRR V8 t	MIA Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	STL Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small	FON Template:Small					2nd	162	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998	Walker Racing		Reynard 98i	Honda HRK V8 t	MIA Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	STL Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small	HOU Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	FON Template:Small			12th	67	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Walker Racing		Reynard 99i	Honda HRS V8 t	MIA Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	STL Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	DET Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	CHI Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small	HOU Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	FON Template:Small		8th	108	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000	Penske Racing	2	Reynard 2Ki	Honda HR-0 V8 t	MIA Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	RIO Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	CHI Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LS Template:Small	STL Template:Small	HOU Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	FON Template:Small		1st	168	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Penske Racing	1	Reynard 01i	Honda HR-1 V8 t	MTY Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	TXS NH	NZR Template:Small	MOT Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	CHI Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	LAU Template:Small	ROC Template:Small	HOU Template:Small	LS Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	FON Template:Small	1st	199	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

IndyCar Series

Year	Team	Chassis	No.	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Rank	Points	Ref
2001	Team Penske	Dallara IR-01	66	Oldsmobile Aurora V8	PHX Template:Small	HMS	ATL	INDY Template:Small	TXS	PPIR	RIR	KAN	NSH	KTY	STL	CHI	TX2				28th	46	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2002	Marlboro Team Penske	Dallara IR-02	6	Chevrolet Indy V8	HMS Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	FON Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	TXS Template:Small	PPIR Template:Small	RIR Template:Small	KAN Template:Small	NSH Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	KTY Template:Small	STL Template:Small	CHI Template:Small	TX2 INJ		3rd	443	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Penske Racing	Dallara IR-03		Toyota Indy V8	HMS Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	MOT INJ			PPIR Template:Small	RIR Template:Small	KAN Template:Small	NSH Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	STL Template:Small	KTY Template:Small	NZR Template:Small	CHI Template:Small		TX2 Template:Small	2nd	489	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		G-Force GF09						INDY Template:Small	TXS Template:Small										FON Template:Small

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1995	Reynard 95i	Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8 t	19	29	Hall/VDS Racing
2001	Dallara IR-01	Oldsmobile Aurora V8	5	2	Penske Racing
2002	Dallara IR-02	Chevrolet Indy V8	14	10	Penske Racing
2003	G-Force GF09	Toyota Indy V8	10	1	Penske Racing
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CART career results

Year	Team	Wins	Points	Championship Finish
1995	Hall/VDS Racing	1	56	14th
1996	Hall/VDS Racing	1	104	6th
1997	Walker Racing	0	162	2nd
1998	Walker Racing	0	67	12th
1999	Walker Racing	1	108	8th
2000	Penske Racing	2	168	1st
2001	Penske Racing	2	199	1st
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Indy Racing League career results

Year	Team	Wins	Points	Championship Finish
2001	Penske Racing	0	46	28th
2002	Penske Racing	2	443	3rd
2003	Penske Racing	3	489	2nd
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Complete American Le Mans Series results

Year	Entrant	Class	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Rank	Points	Ref
2008	de Ferran Motorsports	LMP2	Acura ARX-01b	Acura 3.4L V8	Template:Michelin	SEB	STP	LNB	UTA 3	LIM 14/7	MID Ret	AME 18/8	MOS 7/5	DET 3	PET 8/5	MON 4/2	9th	85	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	de Ferran Motorsports	LMP1	Acura ARX-02a	Acura 4.0L V8	Template:Michelin	SEB Ret	STP Ret	LNB 1	UTA 1	LIM 1	MID 1	AME 2	MOS 2	PET 24/7	MON 1		2nd	162	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Imdb name

Template:McLaren Template:Honda F1 Template:British American Racing Template:Walker Racing Template:CART/CCWS Drivers' Champions Template:American open-wheel car racing champions Template:Indy 500 winners Template:British F3 champions {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Team Penske Template:Chaparral Cars Template:IndyCar Series on ABC