FYI, Rumors Gil shut his doors

Per Planet IRL twitter: "Want to update that de Ferran has not contacted me. Heard form a couple sources this week that de Ferran was to close/closed."

Simon Pagenaud has singed with Highcroft, so its unlikely he'd be running full time in the IRL with de Ferran or anyone else for that matter.

There is also the Gil is trying to team up with Tony George and Vision to run two full time cars next year. I personally have no idea what is going on, just reporting rumors that I'm sure Eagle Eye has the scoop on and knew about days before. ;)

I'm sorry he won't be making the ALMS grid next year. It sounds like he knew his only chance at racing in 2010 would be from the IRL welfare system, but that too has run dry.....

I got a text today that said DeFerran closed his Indy shop. :(

I also got text of closure. de Ferran and team got a raw deal from Acura who promised a five year deal when the team was formed to race in ALMS. Gil had a passion of returning to Indy.

I've been told that the Vision / de Ferran deal was a real attempt to get 2 moderate sized sponsors to do a shared/partial season agreement. The 2 companies could not agree so no deal.

Look for Vision to be the next to close IMO.

bummer....Gil is one of the good guys IMO..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dataman1

de Ferran and team got a raw deal from Acura who promised a five year deal when the team was formed to race in ALMS.

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Live by the engine manufacturer gravytrain and die by the engine manufacturer gravytrain.

Not so fast, my friends.

Per Autosport:

"Gil de Ferran says he still hopes to run a team in the IndyCar Series next year despite rumours that his de Ferran Motorsports squad was on the brink of closure.

De Ferran announced in the summer that he would retire from the cockpit and hoped to expand his successful American Le Mans Series team to run in IndyCar as well. But in recent weeks both programmes have appeared to be in jeopardy, and the team's lead ALMS driver Simon Pagenaud was allowed to accept a 2010 offer from the rival Highcroft outfit.

Amid suggestions that Pagenaud had been released because the team was closing down, de Ferran issued a statement today underlining that he was still working to keep his squad intact and was focusing on an IndyCar entry.

"At the time of writing I am working very hard to secure de Ferran Motorsports' immediate future and my plans to enter the 2010 IndyCar championship are still very much alive," said de Ferran.

"I have continued to employ our staff until now while working towards our 2010 goals but as of yet I am not in a position to announce anything further. The staff have been kept fully informed of the situation and the current status was communicated to them yesterday.

"In the meantime I am continuing to work on the 2010 programme and will release further information when our plans are finalised."

De Ferran Motorsports was formed as a sportscar squad last year, joining Acura's LMP2 line-up in the ALMS from mid-season. Along with Highcroft, it was then selected to move up to LMP1 with Acura in 2009. De Ferran and Pagenaud narrowly missed out on this year's ALMS title to Highcroft's David Brabham and Scott Sharp."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dataman1

I also got text of closure. de Ferran and team got a raw deal from Acura who promised a five year deal when the team was formed to race in ALMS.

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last I saw, Highcroft racing will be running the Acura next year in the ALMS.

when I talked to Gil at Petit, he was looking for sponsorship for them to stay in the ALMS, so I guess they couldn't find anyone right now

He says he isn't closing the door, but with no factory support, no IRL welfare and no driver, it is hard to see a future. Sad. I really liked Gil's efforts in the ALMS and had hopes for him in the IRL. One of the best guys in racing.

Regardless of the spin he puts in his message, there is only one employee left in the building.

the ALMS breakup is now confirmed

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-relationship/

sad :(