IndyCar Champion Gil de Ferran is set to Retire
Gil de Ferran, the two-time IndyCar Champion and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner is preparing to retire.
The 41-year-old Brazilian announced recently that he will retire from professional driving at the end of this year’s season, but will continue as President of de Ferran Motorsports, the front-running team he established in 2008. Gil de Ferran’s racing career began in 1982, and he won titles in multiple series in which he competed including the British Formula Three Championship in 1992 and two IndyCar crowns with the Penske Honda Team in 2000 and 2001. After a short time away from driving he came back to compete at the start of 2008 after founding his own de Ferran Motorsports organization with support from Acura.
He is preparing for a very special send-off when the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca venue in California plays host to the final round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series – the Monterey Sports Car Championships on October 10. de Ferran will serve as the race’s Grand Marshal and will be supporting various high-profile, pre-event activities as well as giving the famous “start your engines” command.
“It’s going to be an emotional occasion and a great honor to be Grand Marshal,” said de Ferran. “Along with Roger Penske and Jackie Stewart, Jim Hall has been one of the three greatest mentors during my career. Interestingly, I won my first IndyCar race with Jim at Laguna in 1995 and enjoyed two successful seasons racing for him when I first came to America. And it’s in respect of what Jim did for me that since we established de Ferran Motorsports, our Acuras have been running the same number 66 that he used on so many of his iconic Chaparrals. Now we are going one step further by recreating the famous Chaparral livery for my final race in California.”
“It would be great to go out on a big high but whatever happens on the track it’s going to be a memorable weekend for all of us,” said de Ferran.
References
1. newsday.com