Gil de Ferran, 2000, 2001 Champ Car champion and 2003 Indy 500 winner, enters his final race as a driver this weekend at Laguna Seca, the finale to the 2009 ALMS championship.
There are a number of celebrations to mark his retirement, the most prominent being the de Ferran Motorsport Acura LMP1 car carrying a cool Chaparral inspired livery.
Jim Hall and his Chaparrals Race cars were leaders in race car design and aerodynamics. The cars always looked stunning with their form and white bodywork.
Gil spent many of his early racing years in Europe and I remember seeing him racing in Formula Ford, Formul3 and 3000, often with Paul Stewart Racing. Gil drove for Jim Hall in Indycar in the 1990’s. Hall has always been a mentor and hero for de Ferran, hence the dFM Acura LMP1 carrying race number #66
The white Acura was launched yesterday along with an on track tribute with two legendary Chaparral. Gil took to the track in the Chaparral 2, team-mate Simon Pagenaud drove his usual race car, while Jim Hall drove the stunning Chaparral 2E with the high wing.
The trio will also take to the track over the weekend. Gil is also the Grand Marshall and race starter for the ALMS race, which means Simon Pagenaud will have to start!
In practice yesterday, it was fitting that Gil was quickest. Qualifying, live on SpeedTV.com website at 3pm PST.
Gill and Simon have a slim chance of taking the championship from the similar Highcroft Patron Acura, if that car doesn’t complete 70% of the race and ‘dFM’ win.
More from Laguna Seca with our man, Mike Garrett, soon.
-Andy Blackmore
Images: ALMS, Acura
Gil de Ferran Career in pictures, courtesy of SpeedTV/LAT
Great in car video of Gil driving Chaparral 2, courtesy of Marshall Pruett