De Ferran added to IndyCar chassis committee

UPDATE #2 The rest of the advisory board is expected to be announced this week. Eddie Gossage, the president and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway, has been offered the promoter representative position.

03/27/10 IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard commented on the selection of Gil de Ferran to the IndyCar selection committee:

"I think the team owners made a great choice, here is a guy who was a driver, a team owner and he is an engineer and he is very articulate. We have a winner here because he could look at the chassis and engine and really make sound decisions from every aspect. The team owners really made a sound decision picking Gil."

Gil de Ferran

Our view – Gil does have a relationship with Roger Penske (he is co-owner of the Luczo Dragon team – with Roger Penske's son) so some think Roger's views will come through Gil at the meetings. We certainly hope not.

03/26/10 Gil de Ferran, co-owner of Luczo Dragon Racing/de Ferran Motorsports, was elected today to the ICONIC (Innovative, Competitive, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) IZOD IndyCar Series Advisory Committee.

Fellow Leaders Circle team owners elected de Ferran by a majority to serve as their representative on the advisory committee, which will include individuals from key fields of the open-wheel racing industry tasked with reviewing, researching and recommending a future IZOD IndyCar Series chassis and engine platform to the Indy Racing League.

In addition to de Ferran representing team owners, the advisory board will include a league representative, an engine expert, a marketer/promoter and a racing engineer. The committee will be chaired by retired Air Force Gen. William R. Looney III.

The remaining committee members will be selected by Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard. Full appointments to the advisory committee will be announced next week.