Honda Racing Celebrates Racing Legend Gil de Ferran with Release of “241.428” Docuseries About His Iconic Speed Record

• Four-episode, short-form docuseries celebrates the life and achievements of two-time CART Series champion and Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran
• "241.428" represents the all-time closed-course lap record (in mph) set by de Ferran in 2000, powered by a Honda turbocharged V8 engine
• Speed record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR
• Video series features de Ferran's championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car, now owned by American motorsports executive Zak Brown, and recently restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program
• Docuseries drops on HRC US YouTube channel today featuring motorsports legends Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and others

A new documentary series by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) celebrates the life and achievement of the late champion driver Gil de Ferran who set the all-time closed-course lap record at an astonishing 241.428 mph. Launching today on the HRC US YouTube channel, the new four-episode docuseries presented by the HRC Heritage Racing Program, "241.428," takes viewers inside the record run with motorsports legends including Roger Penske, Zak Brown, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kannan sharing personal memories and honoring the life of their friend, teammate and fellow champion:

Driving Team Penske's Reynard 2KI powered by a 2.65-liter Honda HR-0 turbocharged V8, de Ferran recorded an astonishing average speed of 241.428 mph during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race at California Speedway in Fontana. More than a quarter-century later, de Ferran's closed-course lap record still stands across all forms of circuit racing, including Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR - a remarkable testament to the driver, machine and engine that achieved it.

"Gil de Ferran was a big part of the Honda racing family, and he holds a special place in our hearts beyond his major championships and race victories, but 241.428 was an extraordinary achievement," said Kelvin Fu, president of HRC US. "Hearing Gil recount his record-setting run raises the hair on the back of my neck, a powerful reminder of who Gil was and what makes '241.428' such a special documentary."

Developed and directed by noted motorsports journalist Marshall Pruett, with creative direction by motorsports agency, CoForce, "241.428" celebrates de Ferran's remarkable legacy, the monumental Honda engine that powered his record-setting run, and the Penske-modified Reynard chassis that carried him into the history books.

The series also follows the recent restoration and return to the track of de Ferran's 2001 Reynard 01I-Honda, now owned by Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and restored with the help of the HRC Heritage Racing Program. The championship-winning race car was driven by Brown at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca in an emotional tribute to de Ferran chronicled in episode four of "241.428".

The HRC Heritage Racing Program, launched in August during California's famed Monterey Car Week, offers enthusiasts sales, comprehensive restoration, service and trackside support of historic Honda and Acura race cars. The program grew out of the recent restoration and sale of a number of significant Honda and Acura race machines featured throughout Monterey Car Week, including the 2010 Honda ARX-01c "Strakka Racing" Le Mans LMP2 class winner.

The iconic race car took home two trophies for its owner, Robert Neapole of West Palm Beach, Florida: winning the Scott Pruett Legends event at Laguna Seca and earning second in class at the 75th running of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - the first Honda to receive an award at the world's most prestigious car show.

Following is a brief summary of each episode of the new "241.428" docuseries:

Episode 1: 241.428, The Man
A look back at Gil de Ferran's 241.428-mph record-setting run, motor racing's all-time closed-course lap record, at California Auto Club Speedway in Fontana during qualifying for the 2000 CART IndyCar Series race:

Episode 2: 241.428, The Car
A look inside the highly modified 'Renske' chassis (a mashup of 'Penske' and 'Reynard') with insights from Team Penske, HRC, Zak Brown and superstar drivers on its unbridled excellence:

Episode 3: 241.428, The Heart
A deep dive inside the stunning Honda CART turbo V8 with encyclopedic distillation of its record-setting and championship-winning attributes along with tales of awe from those who raced with and against Honda engines in this era:

Episode 4: 241.428, The Reunion
In a touching tribute to Gil, Zak Brown drives the sister car to de Ferran's record-setting ride at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca. HRC played a crucial role in returning the race car to track action after 25 years, rebuilding the engine and preparing the electronics as part of the HRC Heritage Racing Program

Brown recently purchased de Ferran's championship-winning 2001 Team Penske Reynard-Honda CART Indy car from team owner Roger Penske. The record-setting 2000 car is on display at the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan: :

Gil de Ferran (1967-2023)
Gil de Ferran was one of motor racing's most respected figures. As a driver, he was a two-time CART Series champion with Team Penske and Honda power, winning the titles in 2000 and 2001. In 2003, he also won racing's biggest event, the Indianapolis 500, driving for Penske.

After retiring from driving in the IndyCar series following the 2003 season, de Ferran joined the Honda Formula 1 program as sporting director of the BAR-Honda team. He later returned to competition as both driver and team owner with a factory-backed Acura sports car program in the American Le Mans Series, where he won numerous races before retiring again after the 2009 season.

At the conclusion of the team ownership chapter of his career, de Ferran joined McLaren Racing as sporting director, recruited by CEO Zak Brown.

His exceptional wisdom, deep engineering knowledge, and vast experience as a driver, engineer, and team owner made de Ferran an invaluable asset to people throughout the racing world, including former HRC US President David Salters and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. Their relationships with de Ferran, their respect for his remarkable career, and their personal experiences with him helped inspire and shape "241.428", a documentary celebrating the life, career and enduring legacy of one of motorsport's truly exceptional figures.

About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) leads all Honda and Acura racing programs in North America and has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to grassroots racing programs, HRC US has amassed over 500 race wins and 60 series championships.

HRC US specializes in the in-house design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, racing products and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company offers HRC parts and race support services to Honda and Acura racers in North America. In 2024, HRC US expanded its operations to pursue consumer performance parts, merchandise and historic memorabilia sales. In August 2026 HRC US announced a newly-formed heritage racing business.

https://hondaracing-us.honda.com

Important Notice
Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

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