Next race: Alabama Indy Grand Prix, March 29

Gil de Ferran

Gil de Ferran, Detroit
Born:
December 29 2023
Died:
December 29 2023
Nationality:
Brasil
First race:
Homestead, 1995
Races:
160
Wins:
12
Race Win %:
7.5%

About Gil de Ferran

  • Biography
  • Performance by Circuit Type
  • Wins
  • Results

    • Biography

    Gil de Ferran is a Brazilian IndyCar driver and two-time series champion (2000 and 2001), and he also won the 2003 Indianapolis 500.

    After climbing the European racing ladder—with a British Formula 3 title and a third-place finish in Formula 3000—De Ferran moved to American open-wheel racing in 1995. With Hall/VDS Racing, the Brazilian showed strong development, highlighted by the final two races of the season: a second place in Vancouver and his first victory at Laguna Seca. With these results, he claimed the Rookie of the Year title ahead of Christian Fittipaldi.

    In 1997, De Ferran moved to Walker Racing and even finished second in the championship. Two somewhat quieter seasons followed, but that didn’t stop him from landing a drive with Team Penske in 2000. By consistently scoring points, he went on to win the CART championship in both 2000 and 2001.

    Together with Penske, De Ferran switched to the rival Indy Racing League in 2002. He was immediately competitive there, finishing third in the championship. A year later, he claimed his first—and ultimately only—Indianapolis 500 victory.

    Despite missing one race due to injury, De Ferran still finished second in the championship. With two titles, an Indy 500 win, and a victory in his final career race, this marked the moment for De Ferran to retire as a driver.

    After his driving career, De Ferran transitioned to Formula 1 as the sporting director for BAR-Honda—a role he held from 2005 to 2007. In 2010, he returned to IndyCar as co-owner of de Ferran Dragon Racing, which ultimately shut down after just one year. Later, De Ferran served on the advisory committee for the new car introduced in 2012.

    De Ferran passed away on December 29, 2023, from cardiac arrest. He was only 56 years old.

    Performance by Circuit Type

    TypeRacesAvg FinishWinsRace Win %
    Oval799.101378.86%
    Roadcourse2810.1786310.71%
    Streetcourse4512.711112.22%
    Airfield76.1429114.29%
    Roadcourse12.000000%

    Wins

    # Jaar Date (ET) Race Type
    1 1995 September 10 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse
    2 1996 June 30 Cleveland IndyCar Grand Prix
    Cleveland    		 Airfield
    3 1999 June 20 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200
    Portland    		 Roadcourse
    4 2000 May 27 Nazareth
    Nazareth    		 Oval
    5 2000 June 25 Portland
    Portland    		 Roadcourse
    6 2001 September 22 England
    Rockingham    		 Oval
    7 2001 October 7 Houston
    Houston    		 Streetcourse
    8 2002 June 16 Radisson Indy 225
    Pikes Peak Raceway    		 Oval
    9 2002 August 25 Gateway Indy 250
    Gateway    		 Oval
    10 2003 May 25 Indianapolis 500
    Indianapolis    		 Oval
    11 2003 July 19 Firestone Indy 200
    Nashville Superspeedway    		 Oval
    12 2003 October 12 Chevy 500
    Texas Motor Speedway    		 Oval

    Results

    1995
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 5 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota
    Miami    		 Streetcourse 25
    March 19 Australian IndyCar Grand Prix
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 16
    April 2 Slick 50 200
    Phoenix Raceway    		 Oval 11
    April 9 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 27
    April 23 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
    Nazareth    		 Oval 19
    May 28 79th Indianapolis 500
    Indianapolis    		 Oval 29
    June 4 Miller Genuine Draft 200
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 8
    June 11 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 16
    June 25 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 presented by Texaco-Havoline
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 10
    July 9 Texaco-Havoline 200
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 21
    July 16 Molson Indy Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 16
    July 23 Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 14
    July 30 Marlboro 500
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 12
    August 13 Miller Genuine Draft 200
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 24
    August 20 New England 200
    New Hampshire    		 Oval 7
    September 3 Molson Indy Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 2
    September 10 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 1


    1996
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 3 Toyota presents the Grand Prix of Miami
    Homestead    		 Oval 2
    March 17 IndyCar Rio 400
    Rio de Janeiro    		 Streetcourse 10
    March 31 Bartercard Indycar Australia
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 11
    April 14 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 5
    April 28 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
    Nazareth    		 Oval 23
    May 26 U.S. 500
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 9
    June 2 Miller Genuine Draft 200
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 9
    June 9 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 3
    June 23 Budweiser 200
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 2
    June 30 Cleveland IndyCar Grand Prix
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 1
    July 14 Molson Indy Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 18
    July 28 Michigan 500
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 19
    August 11 Miller 200
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 17
    August 18 Texaco/Havoline 200
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 25
    September 1 Molson Indy Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 4
    September 8 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 25


    1997
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 2 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami
    Homestead    		 Oval 22
    April 6 Sunbelt IndyCarnival
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 5
    April 13 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 21
    April 27 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
    Nazareth    		 Oval 4
    May 11 Hollywood Rio 400k
    Rio de Janeiro    		 Streetcourse 11
    May 24 Motorola 300
    Gateway    		 Oval 3
    June 1 Miller Genuine Draft 200
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 7
    June 8 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 3
    June 22 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 2
    July 13 Medic Drug Grand Prix
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 2
    July 20 Molson Indy Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 25
    July 27 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 3
    August 10 Miller 200
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 6
    August 17 Texaco/Havoline 200
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 3
    August 31 Molson Indy Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 3
    September 7 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 5
    September 28 Marlboro 500
    Fontana    		 Oval 6


    1998
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 15 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami
    Homestead    		 Oval 7
    March 28 Budweiser 500
    Motegi Oval    		 Oval 3
    April 5 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 20
    April 27 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
    Nazareth    		 Oval 4
    May 10 Rio 400
    Rio de Janeiro    		 Streetcourse 26
    May 23 Motorola 300
    Gateway    		 Oval 6
    May 31 Miller 200
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 22
    June 7 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 3
    June 21 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 20
    July 12 Medic Drug Grand Prix
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 6
    July 19 Molson Indy Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 27
    July 26 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 16
    August 9 Miller Lite 200
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 9
    August 16 Texaco/Havoline 200
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 16
    September 6 Molson Indy Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 13
    September 13 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 19
    October 4 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston
    Houston    		 Streetcourse 21
    October 18 Honda Indy 300
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 14
    November 1 Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota
    Fontana    		 Oval 17


    1999
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 21 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami
    Homestead    		 Oval 6
    April 9 Firestone Firehawk 500
    Motegi Oval    		 Oval 2
    April 18 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 6
    May 2 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
    Nazareth    		 Oval 15
    May 15 Grand Prix Telemar Rio 200
    Rio de Janeiro    		 Streetcourse 10
    May 29 Motorola 300
    Gateway    		 Oval 25
    June 6 Miller Lite 225
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 3
    June 20 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 1
    June 27 Medic Drug Grand Prix
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 2
    July 11 Texaco/Havoline 200
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 14
    July 18 Molson Indy Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 19
    July 25 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 24
    August 8 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 22
    August 15 Miller Lite 200
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 6
    August 22 Chicago Grand Prix
    Chicago    		 Oval 13
    September 5 Molson Indy Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 26
    September 12 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 6
    September 26 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston
    Houston    		 Streetcourse 17
    August 17 Honda Indy
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 27
    November 1 Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota
    Fontana    		 Oval 9


    2000
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 26 Homestead
    Homestead    		 Oval 6
    April 16 Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 7
    April 30 Rio de Janeiro
    Rio de Janeiro    		 Streetcourse 17
    May 14 Japan
    Motegi Oval    		 Oval 9
    May 27 Nazareth
    Nazareth    		 Oval 1
    June 5 Milwaukee
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 12
    June 18 Detroit
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 9
    June 25 Portland
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 1
    July 2 Cleveland
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 14
    July 16 Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 6
    July 23 Michican
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 18
    July 30 Chicago
    Chicago    		 Oval 3
    August 13 Mid Ohio
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 2
    August 20 Road America
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 25
    September 3 Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 5
    September 10 Laguna Seca
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 2
    September 17 Gateway
    Gateway    		 Oval 8
    October 1 Houston
    Houston    		 Streetcourse 3
    October 15 Australia
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 23
    October 30 Fontana
    Fontana    		 Oval 3


    2001
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 11 Monterrey
    Monterrey    		 Roadcourse 2
    March 18 Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200
    Phoenix Raceway    		 Oval 24
    April 8 Long Beach
    Long Beach    		 Streetcourse 3
    May 27 Indianapolis 500
    Indianapolis    		 Oval 2
    May 6 Nazareth
    Nazareth    		 Oval 23
    May 19 Japan
    Motegi Oval    		 Oval 13
    June 3 Milwaukee
    Milwaukee Mile    		 Oval 7
    June 17 Detroit
    Detroit Belle Isle    		 Streetcourse 6
    June 24 Portland
    Portland    		 Roadcourse 13
    July 1 Cleveland
    Cleveland    		 Airfield 4
    July 15 Toronto
    Toronto    		 Streetcourse 14
    July 22 Michican
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 24
    July 29 Chicago
    Chicago    		 Oval 3
    August 12 Mid-Ohio
    Mid-Ohio    		 Roadcourse 2
    August 19 Elkhart Lake
    Road America    		 Roadcourse 5
    September 2 Vancouver
    Vancouver    		 Streetcourse 2
    September 15 Germany
    Lausitzring    		 Oval 8
    September 22 England
    Rockingham    		 Oval 1
    October 7 Houston
    Houston    		 Streetcourse 1
    October 14 Laguna Seca
    Laguna Seca    		 Roadcourse 3
    October 28 Australia
    Surfers Paradise    		 Streetcourse 4
    November 4 Fontana
    Fontana    		 Oval 6


    2002
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 2 Grand Prix of Miami
    Homestead    		 Oval 2
    March 17 Bombardier ATV 200
    Phoenix Raceway    		 Oval 2
    March 24 Yamaha Indy 400
    Fontana    		 Oval 4
    April 21 Firestone Indy 225
    Nazareth    		 Oval 3
    May 26 Indianapolis 500
    Indianapolis    		 Oval 10
    June 8 Boomtown 500
    Texas Motor Speedway    		 Oval 16
    June 16 Radisson Indy 225
    Pikes Peak Raceway    		 Oval 1
    June 29 SunTrust Indy Challenge
    Richmond Raceway    		 Oval 2
    July 7 Ameristar Casino Indy 200
    Kansas    		 Oval 5
    July 20 Firestone Indy 200
    Nashville Superspeedway    		 Oval 2
    July 28 Michigan Indy 400
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 5
    August 11 Belterra Casino Indy 300
    Kentucky Speedway    		 Oval 21
    August 25 Gateway Indy 250
    Gateway    		 Oval 1
    September 8 Delphi Indy 300
    Chicagoland    		 Oval 23


    2003
    Date (ET) Race Type FP
    March 2 Chevy 500
    Homestead    		 Oval 2
    March 23 Purex Dial Indy 200
    Phoenix Raceway    		 Oval 14
    May 25 Indianapolis 500
    Indianapolis    		 Oval 1
    June 7 Bombardier 500
    Texas Motor Speedway    		 Oval 8
    June 15 Honda Indy 225
    Pikes Peak Raceway    		 Oval 3
    June 28 SunTrust Indy Challenge
    Richmond Raceway    		 Oval 3
    July 6 Kansas Indy 300
    Kansas    		 Oval 3
    July 19 Firestone Indy 200
    Nashville Superspeedway    		 Oval 1
    July 27 Firestone Indy 400
    Michigan International Raceway    		 Oval 7
    August 10 Emerson Indy 250
    Gateway    		 Oval 3
    August 17 Belterra Casino Indy 300
    Kentucky Speedway    		 Oval 9
    August 24 Firestone Indy 225
    Nazareth    		 Oval 4
    September 7 Delphi Indy 300
    Chicagoland    		 Oval 12
    September 21 Toyota Indy 400
    Fontana    		 Oval 15
    October 12 Chevy 500
    Texas Motor Speedway    		 Oval 1