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Felipe Giaffone

Felipe Giaffone (; born 22 January 1975) is a Brazilian racing driver. Giaffone competed in the Indy Racing League between 2001 and 2006, with a best season finish of fourth in the 2002 season with a single win at Kentucky. Later he switched to truck racing, claiming a total eight titles between Fórmula Truck and Copa Truck.

From 2008 to 2018, Giaffone worked as part-time commentator on IndyCar Series broadcasts on Rede Bandeirantes. In 2019 he joined Rede Globo to continue in that role on Formula One broadcasts. In 2021, he returned to Band as the network got the rights for F1 races. In 2026 he switched back to Globo to continue in Formula One broadcasts but in pay television channel SporTV.

His father, "Zeca" Giaffone is the 1987 Stock Car Brasil champion and a Mil Milhas Brasil five-time winner in the 1980s.

Racing career

Giaffone went to the United States to drive in the Indy Lights series in 1999 where he was coached by Formula One legend and countryman Nelson Piquet. He began racing in the IRL in 2001 and won one race at Kentucky Speedway in 2002. In 2003, Giaffonewas one of the IRL's representatives in the IROC series, but he only competed in two races due to injury and finished tenth in series standings. In 2005, Giaffone made a last minute deal with A. J. Foyt to qualify a third car for him in the Indianapolis 500. With minutes to spare, Giaffone bumped Arie Luyendyk Jr. from the field. Starting in the final 33rd starting position, he avoided attrition and finished fifteenth. With A. J.'s grandson A. J. Foyt IV leaving the IRL for NASCAR in 2006, A. J. the elder chose Giaffone to be his full-time driver for the 2006 season but he was released after eight races due to what Foyt called "communication problems".

In 2007, Giaffone returned to Brazil to race in the Fórmula Truck. He won the championship four times in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2016, and was runner-up in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In 2017 he switched to the Copa Truck, where he claimed four titles in 2017, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and two runner-ups in 2018 and 2022.

Racing record

American Open Wheel racing results

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Indy Lights

IndyCar Series

IndyCar Series career summary

Indianapolis 500

Fórmula Truck

Family

The Giaffone family has had great involvement in motorsport.

  • José "Zeca" Giaffone - Felipe's father; 1987 Stock Car Brasil champion and five-time winner of Mil Milhas Brasil: 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. The founder of JL Racing, the biggest racing engine supplier in Brazil and Stock Car Brasil chassis supplier, and the owner of Granja Viana international kart circuit in Cotia, near São Paulo city.
  • Nicolas Giaffone - son of Felipe, champion of 2023 USF Juniors.
  • José "Zequinha" Giaffone - Felipe's brother; He competed in some races in the 1996 Indy Lights.
  • Affonso Giaffone Júnior - Felipe's uncle, Zeca's elder brother; The winner of the first ever race of Stock Car Brasil in 1979, the champion of the 1981 season and two times winner of Mil Milhas Brasil: 1981 and 1986. His four sons all competed in the Brazilian national kart championships.
  • Affonso Giaffone - Felipe's cousin, Affonso Junior's son; He competed in the 1996-1997 Indy Racing League season.
  • Silvana Giaffone - Felipe's cousin and later Ex wife of Rubens Barrichello. This makes Barrichello a cousin-in-law of Felipe.

References

External links