Gil de Ferran, owner of de Ferran Motorsports, 2 times ChampCar series champion and the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner driving for Penske Motorsports Team, will serve as co-owner, president and managing partner of Luczo Dragon Racing/de Ferran Motorsports in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Strong ties with Luczo Dragon co-owner Jay Penske, and driver Raphael Matos made it easy for the two-time ChampCar champion to merge his operation with the IndyCar team.
After spending the past two years as driver and team owner of de Ferran Motorsports in the American Le Mans Series, de Ferran has been focused on bringing his championship experience to the IZOD IndyCar Series. The decision to join forces with Luczo Dragon Racing is based on a desire from both teams to build one of the most advanced and high technology motorsports operations in North America.
"We have been talking to Gil about this for some time and we felt this was the perfect opportunity to combine our resources," Luczo said. "Gil has the experience of working with major manufacturers and leading racing teams all over the world and we feel we can bring the essential business acumen and managerial expertise to the operation. Our skills are highly complementary and we all have the same vision and ambitions. We're very excited about the direction of our team."
The combined skills of the three partners will create a formidable framework around which to operate. Penske, the youngest son of Roger Penske, has built an impressive media and publishing firm while maintaining a close interest in the sport. Luczo is chairman and CEO of Seagate Technologies, while de Ferran's successes are well documented in the world of motorsport as a driver in ChampCars and IRL, sporting director in Honda F1, Honda ALMS and more recently as a team owner.
"Gil and I have known each other for 10 years - when he started racing for my father. He has always had ambitions outside of the car and Steve and I have been talking to him about working together for some time. Luczo Dragon Racing and de Ferran Motorsports will live together. We all share the same vision for the future in this industry and with our combined skills we are confident that we can make a real success story of this new venture. We have the resources and the knowledge to build a great motorsport organization together." Jay Penske reported.
de Ferran continued: "This is a hugely exciting announcement. Our aim is to put together a state-of-the-art motorsports operation with a sharp focus in high technology and developing the science of performance. We have a very talented driver in Raphael Matos who has been a winner at every level he raced and showed great potential already last year, becoming rookie of the year. The foundation is set and with our collective resources and leadership we hope to break new ground and become one of the most competitive teams in the IZOD IndyCar Series."
Luczo Dragon Racing was formed in 2007 with Ryan Briscoe finishing fifth in the Indianapolis 500, the team's initial race. After a limited schedule in 2008, Luczo Dragon ran a full season in 2009 and claimed the Apex-Brasil Rookie of the Year title Award with Raphael Matos in the cockpit.
De Ferran Motorsports fielded a factory supported Acura in the American Le Mans series in 2008 and 2009. Since its debut half way through the 2008 season, the team won 28% of the races it competed, finished in the top three 61% of the time, was pole position 44% and front row 72%. In 2009, its first full season the team finished second in the LMP1 Class.
