Two of racing's biggest names -- Gil de Ferran and Roland Leong -- pass away
Two of the biggest names in IndyCar and NHRA drag racing, respectively, passed away Friday.
IndyCar veteran and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran passed away from a reported heart attack after competing in a club race, along with son Luke, at a private road course near Miami. De Ferran was 56.
Hours earlier, legendary NHRA team owner and expert engine tuner/crew chief Roland Leong, who had been in declining health in recent months, passed away. Leong was 79.
The deaths of de Ferran and Leong follows the passing eight days earlier of another racing heavyweight, NHRA driver and subsequent team owner Don Schumacher, also at the age of 79.
Here are reports on the passing of both de Ferran and Leong:
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Gil de Ferran was born in Paris, France, but raised in Brazil (he maintained dual citizenship for both countries throughout his life), where he grew up with and became lifelong friends with several other racers who would go on to racing greatness including four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan.
It was legendary Brazilian countryman Emerson Fittipaldi who inspired de Ferran to become a successful racer. Fittipaldi was also a mentor early in de Ferran’s racing career.
De Ferran, who turned 56 on November 11, was competing in a race Friday afternoon with a field that included his son Luke, at The Concours Club, a private racing road course in Opa-locka, Fla., near Miami.
De Ferran took ill while behind the wheel and was able to drive to the pits under his own power. He complained to crew members that he wasn’t feeling well. Medical personnel were summoned and quickly went into action in an attempt to revive de Ferran.
Unfortunately, the attempts to revive de Ferran were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead on the scene, according to several media reports.
Brazilian Motorsports Confederation president Giovanni Guerra confirmed de Ferran suffered a fatal heart attack.
Known as one of the most friendly and affable personalities not only in open-wheel racing, but motorsports in general, de Ferran enjoyed significant success in his racing career.
He won 12 races in total – seven in CART/Champ Car World Series – and five other races in what previously was known as the Indy Racing League. He also won the 2000 and 2001 CCWS championships and finished second in 1997.
De Ferran’s greatest achievement behind the wheel was in 2003, when he won the Indianapolis 500, earning the third straight win in the so-called Greatest Spectacle In Racing for team owner Roger Penske – who has since gone on to win the Indy 500 a record 19 times, including most recently this past May with Josef Newgarden.
“We are terribly saddened to hear about today’s tragic passing of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire de Ferran family,” Penske said in a statement issued by the team. “Gil defined class as a driver and as a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career, both on and off the track.
“Gil was beloved by so many. He was a great friend to the Team Penske and IndyCar family, as well as the entire international motorsports community. Gil’s passing is a terrible loss and he will be deeply missed.”
Kanaan told The Associated Press, “(Gil) was one of my best friends and we grew up together and lately 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.”
Others reacted in similar fashion on social media:
Mario Andretti: “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. … 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.”
IndyCar on NBC analyst and veteran IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe: “I am at a complete loss for words. Gil de Ferran was a legend of our sport and an inspiration and mentor to so many, myself included. Absolutely shocked at news of his passing. My heart goes out to his family and friends.”
Juan Pablo Montoya: “Crazy sad news. Amazing guy and great racer.”
Andretti Global (race team): “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Gil de Ferran. Motorsport has lost a true icon and advocate. Our thoughts are with all of Gil’s family, friends and fans. Godspeed, friend.”
de Ferran’s name is also in the IndyCar record books for achieving the fastest closed circuit qualifying lap in history – 241.426 mph -- at California Speedway (now Auto Club Speedway), a mark that still stands.
De Ferran had rejoined Arrow McLaren SP earlier this year as a consultant, his second stint with the organization after serving as sporting director for Fernando Alonso’s failed attempt to make it at Indy in 2019.
“Everyone at McLaren Racing is shocked and deeply saddened to learn we have lost a beloved member of our or McLaren family,” the team posted on social media. “We sent our deepest condolences to Gil de Ferran’s family, friends and loved ones.
Added McLaren CEO Zak Brown, a longtime close friend of de Ferran’s, “I am shocked and devastated to hear of the loss of a great friend and he teammate,” he wrote on social media. “I’ve raced with Gil all over the world and watched him win some of the biggest races.
“He’s been a great friend for over 20 years and will be greatly missed and never forgotten,” Brown said. “My deepest condolences to his family. RIP Gil. The next win is for you! Goodspeed.”
De Ferran is survived by wife Angela, daughter Anna, and son Luke.
Contributing: Michael Eubanks
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Former NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel team owner and crew chief/tuner Roland Leong passed away Friday at the age of 79 following a lengthy illness. Photo courtesy NHRA.
Roland Leong not only had some of the most colorful race cars ever seen in NHRA drag racing competition, but he also held equally colorful nicknames for more than three decades as both “The Hawaiian” and “The Flyin’ Hawaiian.”
Leong, who had been in deteriorating health the past several months, was 79 years old.
Ironically, Leong spent the last full day of his life with one of his closest friends, Don “Snake” Prudhomme, reminiscing over their respective drag racing careers. Leong helped Prudhomme establish himself as one of the most promising young talents as a driver, and would then go on to become a drag racing legend.
And then, nearly 30 years later, Leong and Prudhomme rejoined forces in the mid-1990s when Leong joined Prudhomme – then a team owner – as a crew chief.
Leong’s colorful nicknames were tributes to his birthplace in the Hawaiian Islands. The native of Honolulu also had sponsorship at times from both Hawaiian Punch and King’s Hawaiian Bread, two additional tributes to his native land.
Leong first achieved success and notoriety as a local racer in and around his native Honolulu. Aspiring to become an even greater racer, Leong moved to the U.S. mainland – namely Southern California – in the early 1960s. It wasn’t always easy for someone of Asian descent, but Leong became not only a fan favorite, but also was among the most respected owners and crew chiefs among his competitors.
While he had roughly two dozen different drivers who piloted either the Top Fuel dragsters or Funny Cars that Leong owned, it was with Prudhomme who he had arguably the closest relationship.
“I guess I always wanted a little brother. He was just like me,” Prudhomme said of Leong to National Dragster several years ago. “All we cared about was drag racing and cars. Even though I had a lot more experience than him, I really felt like we were equals. I think he looked up to me a little more than I realized at the time, but it wasn’t like I was the boss or anything.”
Leong campaigned his Funny Car and Top Fuel rides not only in NHRA competition, but also was an in-demand match racer and fan favorite while barnstorming across the U.S. and Canada at various drag racing events from the 1960s through the 1990s.
In 1991, Leong’s Funny Car became the first to break the 290-mph speed mark in NHRA competition. His cars also won numerous NHRA marquee events including the U.S. Nationals, the season-opening Winternationals and the World Finals.
“He was my buddy, my brother,” Prudhomme told NHRA.com on Friday after learning of his close friend’s passing. There’s probably no one in this sport that I was closer to than Ro. I'm so sorry to see him go, but at least he's no longer suffering. I'm going to miss him.”
Fittingly, Leong was recently inducted into the Hawaii Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Of his career, particularly his match racing days, Leong told National Dragster, “It was an experience; for the age we were, it was a helluva experience. We saw a lot of the country, and after we’d been on the road for so long, we got to know people in almost every town, and we’d do something with them whether it was to go to their house for dinner or go out and do things with them. For me, it was the experience of a lifetime.”