Indianapolis 500 winner Gilles de Ferran dies at 56
Winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500. Gilles de Ferrandied this Friday at the age of 56, while competing with his son in Club Concourse in Florida.
Gilles de Ferran would have died of a heart attack
In accordance with Associated PressA Brazilian motorsport legend would suffer a heart attack while competing with his son at a Florida track.
De Ferran began his career in the world of motorsport in British Formula 3where he lost the title in 1991 Rubens Barrichello And David CoulthardHowever, the following year he took revenge and was crowned king.
His greatest success came in the United States, where he enjoyed a distinguished career. Won two titles in a row BASKET in 2000 and 2001; achieved a total of 12 victories between IndyCar and CART in a career that lasted from 1995 to 2003.
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His biggest success was the Indianapolis 500.
His most important triumph came in 2003 when he won Indianapolis 500 piloting for Roger Penskebeating up his teammate Helio Castroneves at the finish line. This was his fourth and final participation in the 500-meter race.
His racing career included racing in what was then called American Le Mans Series, in which he won five of the ten 2009 races with his Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-01b team. They finished the year finishing second in the championship.
De Ferran also holds the record for average speed on a closed track in history: 386 km/h in that California Speedway in October 2000.
He also served as the team’s sports director. BAR-Honda Formula 1 from 2005 to 2007. He would later play a similar role at McLaren from 2018 to 2021, and would later become a consultant to the team.
Arrow McLaren said goodbye to Gilles de Ferran with an emotional message: “Everyone at McLaren Racing is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that we have lost a beloved member of our McLaren family. We express our deepest condolences to Gil’s family, friends and loved ones. de Ferran.”
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“Gil was an important and integral part of our racing team. He was a formidable force on and off the track and had a lasting impact on everyone who raced and worked with him. He will be missed at McLaren Racing.”