Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and holder of the closed-course land speed record, died Friday at age 56.
De Ferran died after racing with his son at The Concourse Club in Florida, multiple former colleagues confirmed to The Associated Press. Fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran was with his son, Luke, at the private course in Opa-Locka, Florida, when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well.
The Brazilian Motorsports Confederation, in a statement issued by president Giovanni Guerra, said de Ferran suffered a fatal heart attack.
“Gil de Ferran shone in Brazilian and foreign tracks, having as highlights his English Formula 3 title, his two IndyCar championships, and the victory at Indy 500 in 2003,” Guerra said in the statement. “In my name and in the name of our confederation, we pray to God so He welcomes our brother in all glory and comforts his family, friends and millions of fans all over the world.”
When de Ferran won the 2003 Indy 500 for Roger Penske, it was the third consecutive win in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for Penske, who has now amassed a record 19 victories in the iconic Memorial Day weekend race.
“We are terribly saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire de Ferran family,” Penske said in a statement. “Gil defined class as a driver and a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career.
“He was beloved by so many and he was a great friend to the Team Penske family and to the entire international motorsports community. It’s a tragic loss and he will be deeply missed.”
Kanaan said he was “devastated” at the loss of the Brazilian icon.
“He was one of my best friends and we grew up together and lately and we worked together at McLaren,” Kanaan told The Associated Press. “In the beginning of this year he was a mentor, helping me out. I lost a dear friend. I am devastated. I have to say, he went in Gil style, driving a race car. If I could choose a way to go, that’s what I could do.”
Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2000 and 2015 IndyCar champion, said: “Crazy sad news. Amazing guy and great racer.” Montoya won the 2015 Indy 500 for Penske.
The French-born Brazilian was rehired at McLaren as a consultant in May. He had been sporting director of McLaren’s failed effort to qualify Fernando Alonso for the 2019 Indy 500.
“Everyone at McLaren Racing is…
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