RIP Gil de Ferran

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Old 12-29-2023, 09:19 PM
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RIP Gil de Ferran

https://racer.com/2023/12/29/gil-de-ferran-1967-2023/

Only 56. Possibly died of a heart attack.

He was one of my favorite drivers of the golden era of IndyCar. I still have some of his autographed memorabilia of that time, when I traveled to so many races. He won the last CART race I ever attended, the 2001 Grand Prix of Houston.

Old 12-30-2023, 07:23 AM
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beside being fast and winning driver always read what a nice guy he was behind the scenes. Some more info, I didn't know that McLaren rehired him this year as a consultant. A former colleague saw him set that record lap at California Speedway in 2000.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gil-ferra...012408116.html
Old 12-30-2023, 04:40 PM
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He was a nice guy, I met him at California Speedway with my brother. It just doesn't seem right does it? You're living a life as a former driver and you die young from a heart attack. I was at that California race when he set the speed record and during the podium celebrations (he was 3rd?) we were so close my wife's brand new camera got soaked with champagne and that was the last time she could use it. Rest well Gil, everyone who knew you misses you.
Old 12-30-2023, 08:36 PM
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I remember watching that lap record. I think it was on espn2 "The Deuce".

He was a master of the Cleveland GP, one of the best tracks on the calendar. I remember going to Cleveland one year and he really stood out because he was driving for the Jim Hall team that didn't have any good results for years, and he got a pole.
Old 12-30-2023, 08:46 PM
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Gil's #1 car in 2001. Legend.
Old 12-30-2023, 08:57 PM
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Old 12-31-2023, 07:06 AM
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^ Classy tribute by Penske
Old 01-02-2024, 08:08 AM
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Old 01-08-2024, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by F-C

He was a master of the Cleveland GP, one of the best tracks on the calendar.

Cleveland?? you mean the featureless airport track by the lake?
Old 01-10-2024, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan
Cleveland?? you mean the featureless airport track by the lake?
It was flat as a pancake, but with it being so wide, it's biggest "feature" was that there were so many different racing lines. Watch those races on YouTube again, it was super exciting racing. I remember when Tilke tried to duplicate that with his track designs, but he failed because his corners still wasn't as wide as Cleveland.
Old 05-08-2024, 04:18 PM
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Really cool of McLaren.
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Old 05-10-2024, 05:35 PM
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Damn, so young. Gil
Old 05-10-2024, 06:23 PM
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A great sentiment from Team McLaren.
Old 05-10-2024, 08:53 PM
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Never knew Gil was so liked inside McLaren. Not surprising, since he was one of the most introverted race car drivers ever.
Old 05-11-2024, 06:10 PM
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Truly well deserved recognition
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