Dan Gurney

American racing driver, constructor and team owner

Daniel Sexton Gurney (April 13, 1931 – January 14, 2018) was an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner who reached racing's highest levels starting in 1958.[1]

Dan Gurney
Gurney in 1970
BornDaniel Sexton Gurney
(1931-04-13)April 13, 1931
Port Jefferson, New York, US
DiedJanuary 14, 2018(2018-01-14) (aged 86)
Newport Beach, California, US
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityAmerican
Active years19591968, 1970
TeamsFerrari, BRM, Porsche, Lotus, Brabham, Eagle, McLaren
Entries87 (86 starts)
Championships0
Wins4
Podiums19
Career points133
Pole positions3
Fastest laps6
First entry1959 French Grand Prix
First win1962 French Grand Prix
Last win1967 Belgian Grand Prix
Last entry1970 British Grand Prix

Early life change

Gurney was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager.

Racing career change

Gurney won races in the Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am, and Trans-Am Series. Gurney is the first of three drivers to have won races in Sports Cars (1958), Formula One (1962), NASCAR (1963), and Indy Car (1967) (the other two being Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya).

In 1967, after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans together with A.J. Foyt, he spontaneously sprayed champagne while celebrating on the podium. Apart from starting this tradition, he also was the first to put a simple right-angle extension on the upper trailing edge of the rear wing. This device, called a Gurney flap, increases downforce and, if well designed, imposes only a relatively small increase in aerodynamic drag.

At the 1968 German Grand Prix he became the first driver ever to use a full face helmet in Grand Prix racing.[2]

Death change

Gurney died from complications of pneumonia in Newport Beach, California on January 14, 2018, at the age of 86.[3] He was survived by his wife Evi and their four sons, Justin, Alex, Dan Jr. and Jimmy.[4]

References change

  1. "Dan Gurney's Biography - Dan Gurney's All American Racers". allamericanracers.com. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  2. "Dan Gurney – Formula One Gallery - Dan Gurney's All American Racers". allamericanracers.com. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  3. "Racing legend Dan Gurney dies from complications of pneumonia". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 14, 2018.[permanent dead link][permanent dead link]
  4. Malsher, David (14 January 2018). "Tribute to Dan Gurney, 1931-2018". MotorSport.

Other websites change

  Media related to Dan Gurney at Wikimedia Commons