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Gil de Ferran obituary: Indy 500 winner and two-time IndyCar champion dies aged 56
Gil de Ferran, a Brazilian racing driver, passed away at the age of 56. He won America’s biggest open-wheel race, beating his friend and teammate Helio Castroneves by just 0.299s in a fierce battle. De Ferran exhibited remarkable racing intellect and speed, securing his victory by overtaking Castroneves in traffic with only 30 laps remaining. Despite immense pressure and suffering from shoulder cramps, de Ferran emerged as the champion. He retired from IndyCar after winning two titles in 2000 and 2001. Born in France, de Ferran started karting in Brazil and made a name for himself in the UK, winning the British F3 championship in 1992. He then joined the IndyCar Series, where he achieved 12 wins and 21 pole positions, with his final victory coming in 2003. De Ferran was highly respected and beloved by the racing community.
