Indy 500 winner de Ferran dies at 56
Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and holder of the closedcourse land speed record, died Friday while racing with his son at The Concourse Club in Florida, multiple former colleagues confirmed to The Associated Press. He was 56.
Fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran was with his son, Luke, at the private course in Opa-Locka, Florida, when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well. Kanaan said de Ferran apparently suffered a heart attack and could not be revived.
When de Ferran won the 2003 Indy 500 for Roger Penske, it was the thirdconsecutive win in the “Greatest Spectacle
in Racing” for Penske, who has now amassed a record 19 victories in the iconic Memorial Day weekend race.
“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,” Roger Penske said in a statement. “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 said he was “devastated” at the loss of the Brazilian icon.
“He was one of my best friends and we grew up together and lately and we worked together at McLaren,” Kanaan told The Associated Press. “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.”
The Brazilian Motorsports Confederation confirmed de Ferran suffered a fatal heart attack in a statement issued by president Giovanni Guerra.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Billy Edwards Jr. ran for a touchdown and threw for a score as Maryland routed Auburn 31-13 Saturday at the Music City Bowl and the Terrapins won a program-record third straight bowl.
Maryland (8-5) hadn’t even played three consecutive bowls since 2006-08, and the Terrapins with coach Michael Locksley added this victory to their win over Virginia Tech at the Pinstripe Bowl and last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina State.
The Terrapins hadn’t played a Southeastern Conference team in a bowl since routing Tennessee 30-3 in the 2002 Peach Bowl. This game essentially was over before the end of the first quarter, even without Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s passing leader this season opting out for the NFL draft.
Auburn (6-7) ended coach Hugh Freeze’s first season back in the SEC losing three straight. The Tigers also lost a fourth straight bowl and their first in three appearances in this bowl.
Maryland dominated from the opening snap, taking a 21-0 lead as the Terrapins outgained Auburn 226-13 within the first 12 minutes.