The NASCAR world is shrouded in sadness today. We’ve lost a true motorsport icon, Gil de Ferran, at the age of 56. The Associated Press reported that de Ferran’s life tragically ended while he was with his son at The Concours Club, a private circuit in Opa-Locka, Florida, last Friday.

De Ferran, a two-time CART champion and the 2003 Indianapolis 500 victor, was a legend on the open-wheel circuit. However, he narrowly missed the 1991 title, finishing behind Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard, in 1992, Gil de Ferran again returned with a vengeance, clinching the title for himself. In a career marked by fierce competition against talents like Barrichello and Coulthard, de Ferran went on to secure back-to-back CART championships in 2000 and 2001, etching his name in the annals of racing history.

Gil de Ferran had to be rushed to the hospital in the middle of the race

In the middle of a race, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded as racing legend Gil de Ferran had to be swiftly taken to the hospital. His Brazilian compatriot, Tony Kanaan, shared that de Ferran was at the private track with his son, Luke when he suddenly felt unwell and had to pull over. Tragically, it was reported that de Ferran suffered a heart attack and, despite efforts, couldn’t be revived. Luke, his son, recounted that his father stopped near the pit area entrance, feeling ill. Without the usual signs of a crash, it took a while for the safety vehicles to reach de Ferran’s car. 

Gil de Ferran was extremely special to the whole racing community for several achievements and feats. His 2003 Indy 500 triumph marked a hat-trick of victories in the prestigious event for Roger Penske, contributing to his unmatched 19 wins at the Memorial Day weekend spectacle. He famously edged out Castroneves in these races, who was on the cusp of making history with three consecutive Indy 500 wins. Back in 2001, Gil de Ferran was 2nd to Castroneves, marking Penske’s first 1-2 finish at the Indy 500.

That is not it! The French-born Brazilian, who rejoined McLaren as a consultant in May, had previously spearheaded McLaren’s unsuccessful bid to get Fernando Alonso into the 2019 Indy 500. His 2003 victory at Nazareth Speedway was a huge milestone, marking Team Penske’s 100th IndyCar win. However, de Ferran wrapped up his IndyCar career at the end of that season with a total of 12 wins—seven in CART and five in the Indy Racing League.

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A record-breaker, Gil de Ferran set the closed-course land speed record during CART qualifying at California Speedway in 2000, clocking a lap at 241.428 mph, a record that still stands. Inspired by fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran started in karting, moved to Europe, and won the 1992 English Formula 3 title. Apart from his racing accolades, de Ferran’s personal life also sparkled, with his daughter Ana making waves as a DJ at Formula One races. However, the gut-wrenching news has saddened everyone—fans, friends, and family.

Legendary driver’s loss sends a wave of sadness 

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Tony Kanaan, visibly shaken, told The Associated Press, “He was one of my best friends and we grew up together, and lately and we worked together at McLaren. In the beginning of this year, he was a mentor, helping me out. I lost a dear friend. I am devastated. I have to say, he went in Gil style, driving a racecar. If I could choose a way to go, that’s what I could do.”

He also made a tweet to pay his condolences: “🇧🇷 Campeão, amigo, rival, mentor dentro e fora das pistas. Sem palavras para descrever esta perda. Descanse em paz meu amigo. 🇺🇸 Champion, friend, rival, mentor at the track and outside of it. I have no words to describe this loss. May you rest in peace my friend.”

Roger Penske, the owner of Team Penske and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, expressed his deep sorrow, “We are terribly saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke, and the entire de Ferran family. Gil defined the class as a driver and a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career. He was beloved by so many and he was a great friend to the Team Penske family and the entire international motorsports community. It’s a tragic loss and he will be deeply missed.”

Marco Andretti took to social media to pay tribute, posting a photo of de Ferran with the words, “My friend. One of the real ones. One of the reasons for my F1 tests. Loved your passion and love for our sport, Thank you for what you contributed to my life.”

Andretti posted another tweet consisting of a photo of him standing with Gil de Ferran, echoing the shock: “My heart sank at the news of Gil de Ferran’s death. It’s heart-wrenching. Thinking of him now and savoring every conversation. He will be missed by so many. A wonderful man and a dear and loyal friend.”

Brad Keselowski posted a tweet to pay his respect to the legendary driver: “Rip Legend His track record lap at Fontana will live on forever, trumped only by the praise from his fellow racers who always held him in the highest regard. #GodSpeed”

However, Gil de Ferran’s impact reached far beyond the racing elites, touching the hearts of the wider racing community. Fans were left in disbelief, with reactions ranging from stunned comments like, “Oh no, how awful,” to heartfelt tributes. One admirer of the legendary driver shared, “One of the nicest people I’ve ever met in racing. A great loss. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.”

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The untimely passing of the Indianapolis 500 winner at such a young age left fans reeling, with sentiments like “Real sad at such a young age🙏.” Another fan expressed their devastation simply, “I am heartbroken 💔….” Expressions of condolence poured in, one saying, “So heartbreaking he was such a beautiful man. So sad my condolences to you.” A fan fondly recalled de Ferran’s record-setting moment, “I was at California Speedway when he set the speed record for the track. I’m http://stunned.RIP racer.”