Photo source: de Ferran Motorsports
Veteran driver Gil de Ferran will retire from professional racing at the end of the 2009 ALMS season, and in tribute to his career, he will serve as "Grand Marshal" of Laguna Seca at the last race of the season there on October 10.
De Ferran has his own ALMS team (de Ferran Motorsports), and he and co-driver Simon Pagenaud drive the number 66 XM Radio Acura ARX-02a in the LMP1 class. For this last race only, the car will wear the all-white livery of Jim Hall's Chaparral cars. De Ferran credits Hall as a mentor, and both he and two of the Chaparral cars will be present at the race, along with the yellow Pennzoil that de Ferran drove in his first IndyCar victory (1995 at Laguna). De Ferran won IndyCar crowns with Penske Honda in 2000 and 2001, and the Indianapolis 500 in 2003.
Of course, there will be all sorts of festivities the weekend of the Monterey Sports Car Championships, and de Ferran will have the honor of giving the "start your engines" command.
hondacura4 says:
02:18 PM, 09/29/09
I'm glad Acura entered the ALMS series as I'm starting to gain interest. Unfortunately, Acura doesn't have anything in the production based classes.
rallyandbosox says:
02:37 PM, 09/29/09
hondaacura, the current rumor is that Acura will be leaving the P1 class after one year and once again rejoining the P2 class (or at least the Highcroft team will).
subytrojan says:
04:04 PM, 09/29/09
I thought Acura was going bye-bye and that some of those teams were going to field IRL teams (e.g., De Ferran Motorsports).
subytrojan says:
04:05 PM, 09/29/09
Gil and I =)
http://home.earthlink.net/~gmoorefan1/images/Loren_Gil_2.jpg
zoomzoomn says:
05:11 AM, 09/30/09
Gil de Ferran. Had not really heard that name in awhile but have fond memories of his time in Cart. Always seemed to have such a great demeanor both on and off track.