Gil de Ferran, icon of Brazilian motorsport and two-time Formula Indy champion, dies – News of Brazil
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Brazilian driver and two-time Formula Indy champion Gil de Ferran died this Friday (29), aged 56, after suffering a cardiac arrest in Florida, in the United States, according to information from the Brazilian Automobile Confederation (CBA).
Ferran was at a private motorsport club and was taken to a local hospital, but he did not survive.
Victorious trajectory
Son of French mechanical engineer Luc de Ferran, Gil was born in Paris, France, and arrived in Brazil at the age of four. He began his career in motorsport in karts, aged just five.
In the late 80s and early 90s, after success in British Formula 3 and International Formula 3 3000, he was tested at Arrows to race in Formula 1. However, his chances were cut short after falling head first near the motorhome.
With no chance in Formula 1, Gil migrated to Formula Indy and built a history of success in the category. In 1995, he won the final race of the season, at Laguna Seca, and received the Hall/VDS Rookie of the Year award.
In 1997, he signed with Walker Racing and, in his first year, he was runner-up. The team’s good performance, despite the reduced number of victories, led to an agreement with Penske, which included compatriot Helio Castroneves.
In the first season, in 2000, Gil de Ferran was Formula Indy champion. The following year, he was two-time category champion for the team and came second in the Indianapolis 500.
Source: CNN
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