2024 Indy 500: 2019 champion Simon Pagenaud to honor champion Gil de Ferran
The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday afternoon. Thirty-three drivers will compete for the crown of the biggest open-wheel racing event of the year. The race features eight previous winners: Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Hélio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Ericsson.
One other prior winner will be honored in the race festivities: Gil de Ferran.
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de Ferran won the 2003 Indy 500 from 10th on the grid, his lone victory in four career entries in the race. Simon Pagenaud - winner of the 2019 Indy 500 - will be driving de Ferran's ahead of the race to honor him.
It will be an honor to drive my mentor Gil de Ferran’s iconic 2003 winning car in a special tribute lap at @IMS before the race Sunday.
Gil has been my role model not only as a racer but also as a father. I feel so thankful to have the chance to honor him.https://t.co/ubWyeKNde9 pic.twitter.com/H1o50jjmY2— Simon Pagenaud (@simonpagenaud) May 23, 2024
de Ferran died from a heart attack last December at age 56. He was working as a consultant with the McLaren Formula One team at the time. The Brazilian Automobile Confederation (CBA) stated he fell ill at a private motor racing club in Florida.
Pagenaud is looking forward to honoring de Ferran's memory Sunday before the race. The two raced together in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2008 and 2009.
“The colors, the helmet, the sound, the memories, and the fact that he taught me everything about this place,” Pagenaud told the Indianapolis Star. “I remember late nights and countless hours with my Yoda talking about all the fine details to get to victory lane at the Speedway.”
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de Ferran won the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car (now IndyCar) Series championship with Team Penske.
“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," team owner Roger Penske said in a statement following de Ferran's death.
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How to watch the 2024 Indy 500
When: Sunday, May 26, 2024
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, fuboTV
How to watch: Catch the 108th running of the Indy 500 with a subscription to fuboTV
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 Indy 500: Pre-race festivities honor 2003 winner Gil de Ferran
