Fermín Vélez

Fermín Vélez Bisbe (April 3, 1959 – March 31, 2003){{Cite web |title=Motorsport Memorial - Fermín Vélez |url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db=LWF&db2=ms&n=300 |access-date=28 March 2023 |website=Motorsport Memorial}} was a Spanish sports car racing driver, two-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring and two-time World Sportscar Championship Group C2 champion.

Vélez was a driver in the Indy Racing League, racing in the 1996–1997 seasons with six career starts, including two at the Indianapolis 500.{{Cite web|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway|url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/1996|access-date=2020-08-26|website=www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com}} Born in Barcelona, Spain, Vélez died there of cancer.

Vélez is honoured by the 24H Series sportscar race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, where the race is called the Fermin Vélez Trophy.

Motorsports career results

=24 Hours of Le Mans results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year ! Team ! Co-drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip\|Pos.\|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip\|Class Pos.\|Class position}}
1986 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} John Fitzpatrick Racing \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|ESP}} Emilio de Villota {{flagicon\|ZAF\|1928}} George Fouché \|align="left"\| Porsche 956B \| Gr.C1 \| 349 \| 4th \| 4th
1987 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Spice Engineering \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Gordon Spice {{flagicon\|FRA}} Philippe de Henning \|align="left"\| Spice-Fiero SE86C - Cosworth \| Gr.C2 \| 321 \| 6th \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| 1st
1989 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Chamberlain Engineering \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Nick Adams {{flagicon\|ITA}} Luigi Taverna \|align="left"\| Spice SE89C - Cosworth \| Gr.C2 \| 244 \| DNF \| DNF
1990 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Spice Engineering \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Tim Harvey {{flagicon\|GBR}} Chris Hodgetts \|align="left"\| Spice SE90C - Cosworth \| Gr.C1 \| 308 \| 18th \| 18th
1996 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|USA}} Rocketsports \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Yvan Muller {{flagicon\|USA}} Andy Evans \|align="left"\| Ferrari 333 SP \| WSC \| 31 \| DNF \| DNF
1998 \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|USA}} Doyle-Risi Racing \|align="left"\| {{flagicon\|BEL}} Eric van de Poele {{flagicon\|ZAF}} Wayne Taylor \|align="left"\| Ferrari 333 SP \| LMP1 \| 332 \| 8th \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| 1st

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

Year

! Team

! Co-drivers

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}

! {{Tooltip|Class
Pos.|Class position}}

1986

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} John Fitzpatrick Racing

|align="left"| {{flagicon|ESP}} Emilio de Villota
{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} George Fouché

|align="left"| Porsche 956B

| Gr.C1

| 349

| 4th

1987

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gordon Spice
{{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe de Henning

|align="left"| Spice-Fiero SE86C - Cosworth

| Gr.C2

| 321

| 6th

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1989

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chamberlain Engineering

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Nick Adams
{{flagicon|ITA}} Luigi Taverna

|align="left"| Spice SE89C - Cosworth

| Gr.C2

| 244

| DNF

1990

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Spice Engineering

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Tim Harvey
{{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Hodgetts

|align="left"| Spice SE90C - Cosworth

| Gr.C1

| 308

| 18th

1996

|align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} Rocketsports

|align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Yvan Muller
{{flagicon|USA}} Andy Evans

|align="left"| Ferrari 333 SP

| WSC

| 31

| DNF

1998

|align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} Doyle-Risi Racing

|align="left"| {{flagicon|BEL}} Eric van de Poele
{{flagicon|ZAF}} Wayne Taylor

|align="left"| Ferrari 333 SP

| LMP1

| 332

| 8th

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

=Complete International Formula 3000 results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races

in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Entrant

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! DC

! Points

1988

! Repsol Silk Cut Racing

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| JER
DNQ

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| VAL
13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| PAU
DNQ

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| SIL
DNQ

| MNZ

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PER
14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| BRH
DNQ

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BIR
12

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BUG
15

| ZOL

| DIJ

! NC

! 0

=American open wheel=

(key)

==IndyCar Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! Rank

! Points

! Ref

1996

! Team Scandia

|WDW

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX
19

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|INDY
21

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 22nd

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 60

!{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/velezfe01/1996/O/|title=Fermín Vélez – 1996 Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 7, 2023}}

1996–1997

! Team Scandia

|NHM

|LVS

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"|WDW
9

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX
14

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"|INDY
10

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TXS
25

|PPIR

|CLT

|NH2

|LV2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 26th

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 82

!{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/velezfe01/1997/O/|title=Fermín Vélez – 1997 Indy Racing League Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 7, 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"

! Years

! Teams

! Races

! Poles

! Wins

! Podiums
(non-win)

! Top 10s
(non-podium)

! Indianapolis 500
wins

! Championships

==Indianapolis 500 results==

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Year{{cite web \|url= http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/fermin-velez \|title= Driver Stats \|website= IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com \|access-date= 2016-07-30}} ! Chassis ! Engine ! Start ! Finish ! Team
1996 \| Lola \| Ford-Cosworth \|align=center\|28 \|align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"\|21 \| Scandia
1997 \| Dallara \| Oldsmobile \|align=center\|29 \|align=center style="background:#CFEAFF;"\|10 \| Scandia

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

Year{{cite web |url= http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/driver-stats/drivers/fermin-velez

|title= Driver Stats

|website= IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com |access-date= 2016-07-30}}

! Chassis

! Engine

! Start

! Finish

! Team

1996

| Lola

| Ford-Cosworth