Dan Gurney, who won at IndyCar, NASCAR Cup, Formula 1 and Le Mans, dies at 86

ESPN ^ | 1/14/2018 | Bob Pockrass

[God luvs America]

Dan Gurney, an accomplished and versatile racer whose pioneering innovations in race car manufacturing played an integral role in motorsports, died Sunday at age 86 of complications from pneumonia.

Gurney won seven IndyCar races, five NASCAR Cup races and four Formula 1 races from 1962 to 1970, and he teamed with A.J. Foyt to win the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya have wins in the top levels Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR and sports cars.

"With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today," the Gurney family said in a statement. "In deepest sorrow, with gratitude in our hearts for the love and joy you have given us during your time on this earth, we say 'Godspeed.'"

Racing legend Mario Andretti offered condolences on his Twitter account.

Gurney, a Long Island native, was responsible for creating the wicker bill still used in race cars as well as the aviation industry. He also was one of the first to start using a full-face helmet.

Gurney was one of the founders of the Championship Auto Racing Teams, which sanctioned open-wheel races from 1979 to 2008.

[God luvs America]

Truly one of the great open wheel racers from the United States...one of the few to build his own F1 car and win a race in that car (1967 AT Spa with the Eagle)..also started the tradition of spraying champagne from the podium..

[God luvs America]

F1 ping...

[henkster]

My older brother’s favorite driver.

[yarddog]

I remember him but did not realize how many different types he drove.

It seems like I recall him racing Camaro’s or Mustangs or whatever else was in that class.

[clintonh8r]

He was one of the most versatile drivers of all time. He was the only American to win a Formula 1 race in a car of his own manufacture. He mentored and developed many talented drivers.

In many ways he personified the American spirit. He was a decent, honorable man, above all.

[hinckley buzzard]

All through the fifties and sixties, Indy was a national institution. Every Memorial Day, millions of Americans would take the day off, enjoy a picnic somewhere, and listen to the Indy 500 on the radio, portable or maybe car radio, turned up so it could be heard around the fire or at the picnic table.

Dan Gurney was one of the names known throughout the land. AJ Foyt, later joined by Mario Andretti, brickyard heroes every kid knew. And nobody gave a hang about some Frenchman with a monocle at Monte Carlo.

[gymbeau]

Thanks for the ping.
RIP, Dan.

[MtnClimber]

The Gurney Eagles were a great car by Dan.

[Doogle]

...RIP

..tough weekend for sport favorites

[Paladin2]

RIP to a Great American...

[Chode]

ping thx to God luvs America, RIP.

[rdcbn]

Gurney was amazing

AAR was running a Toyota back when Gurney was in his mid to late 60s

The drivers were having problems with the car in testing and could not get it up to speed

Gurney took it out on the track to see what was wrong

Dan had not been in a race car for almost 20 years

He was faster than any other driver by many seconds and his times would have put him on the pole in an actual race and was close to track record

Amazing guy

[cyclotic]

And winner of the 1972 Cannonball Run. 35 hours, 54 minutes, New York to long beach,CA. He said they never exceeded 175 mph

[clintonh8r]

He drove that fast because he couldn’t wait to get away from Brock Yates...

;^)

[RedStateRocker]

He probably could have ruled at drag racing or rally cars, if he’d wanted to. Best reaction time ever.

[Charles Martel]

Dan was the first to spray the crowd with champagne from the winner's podium. "Iconic" seems too small a word to describe him.

[doorgunner69]

Oh, that hurts. Was just thinking about him the other day.

First saw him race in the early-mid sixties at the old Los Angeles Times Grand Prix at Riverside Raceway. He was driving a Shelby Cobra roadster. I was watching just up from the bridge over the straight. Dan came coasting past and stopped, hoisted the hood.

Got out of the car, hollered up to the spectators. Someone tossed something to him. He fiddles a few moments, tossed whatever back up, close the hood and did a gorgeous burnout down the straight.

The man was far more than a genius driver.

[Loud Mime]

My favorite driver of all time. I first saw him at the 1962 Indy 500, then again in 1963 with the Lotus Fords.

RIP Dan.

Thank You for the great times.

[doorgunner69]

In many ways he personified the American spirit

No wonder he had such a good relationship with Carroll Shelby, a similar man.

[alfa6]

As a kid growing up in the 60’s your description of Memorial Day is pretty much spot on.

FWIW it must have been the late 70’s early 80’s that the Indy race started to fade.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}