LONG BEACH, Calif. – In 1996, Gil de Ferran’s first CART season driving a Honda-powered car, he started from the pole and led 100 of the 105 laps in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He didn’t win the race, which haunts the championship winner to this day.
“Let’s just say we had a tiny problem in the engine department. Actually, it was a $2 part,” de Ferran said at the racing circuit. “Actually, it was a very traumatic day for me. But rather than remembering the failure, I remember leading the race and really it was the beginning of the relationship that lasts to today.”
Honda Performance Development announced that the 2003 Indianapolis 500 Mile race winner, has expanded his role as a consultant into new areas, ranging from improving operations, team and driver relationships to assisting with the company's motorsports strategic and business planning.
De Ferran won his initial CART race for Honda at the 1996 Cleveland Grand Prix, and he went on to record six more wins and 16 poles with Honda power. He claimed the 2000 and 2001 CART title.
“Honda and HPD have been a common thread in my racing career since we first worked to develop their Indy car engines in 1996,” said de Ferran, who served as Sporting Director for the Honda Formula One team from 2005-07. “Now, after two years of targeted work as a technical consultant in specific areas, I am looking forward to taking on this more expanded role.”
He will continue to play a key role in HPD's technical development of various HPD programs, in addition to his expanded responsibilities. Having been a driver and team owner in both the Verizon IndyCar Series and sports cars, he brings a unique perspective to the role.
“Since the beginning, there was an immediate bond from an engineering and development perspective,” said de Ferran, who has a degree in mechanical engineering. “That affinity continued over the years.”
The things you didn't know about Hinch
Asked what physical activity he'll use in the offseason to prepare for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season, James Hinchcliffe of Andretti Autosport and a Toronto native replied:
"Snowshoeing. It's an incredible workout, I think more than people think. And cold weather training is actually very good for the body, so I'm going to go snowshoeing."
Of note
Brett Davern, who stars as Jake Rosati on the MTV series "Awkward," earned the celebrity pole position for the April 12 Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race. ... Los Angeles-based rock band Lifehouse will headline the musical entertainment on the MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage at 6:15 p.m. (ET) May 31 following the first day of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. ... Firestone Racing transported 1,330 tires to Long Beach for the race weekend.