AUGUST 26, 2003

De Ferran to retire as Hornish moves to Penske

Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran is to retire at the end of the year and he will be replaced at Penske Racing next year by American star Sam Hornish Jr. The news is a boost for the Indy Racing League as it had been thought that Hornish would quit open-wheeler racing for NASCAR. With Penske Hornish can race in IRL but will also be able to take part in selected NASCAR events with the Penske South team.

De Ferran was once considered to be a future Formula 1 driver but he was unable to break into the sport and moved to America instead where he has won two CART championships in recent years. This year he suffered back injuries in a crash in Phoenix but came back to win the Indianapolis 500 in great style.

The signing of rising US star Hornish will help Penske maintain his position as the leading American racing team.