Indy 500 Champion Gil De Ferran Dead At 56
2001 Indy 500 Champion Gil de Ferran died on Friday, December 30 after a medical episode at age 56.
The Brazilian was driving alongside his son at the The Concourse Club private race track in Florida when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well, the Associated Press reported.
De Ferran’s countryman, retired IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan, told the outlet that he apparently suffered a heart attack.
De Ferran was a two-time CART series champion and won the 2003 Indy 500 by beating his Team Penske teammate and fellow Brazilian Helio Castroneves across the line in 2003 by .299 seconds to deny Castroneves of his third-straight win in the race.
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“We are terribly saddened to hear about today’s tragic passing of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire de Ferran family,†IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a statement.
“Gil defined class as a driver and as a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career, both on and off the track.”
Along with his championships, De Ferran holds the title of fastest IndyCar and closed circuit driver ever thanks to a 241.428 qualifying lap at the recently demolished track then-known as California Speedway.
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De Ferran is survived by his wife Angela, son Luke and daughter Anna.
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