Dan Gurney passing

[Hankl]

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Dan Gurney, the first driver with victories in each of the Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR Cup series, died Sunday from complications of pneumonia. He was 86.

"With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today," said the statement signed by Evi Gurney, the Gurney family and AAR teammates.

"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."

[Garry Bopp]

Dan was always one of my favorites, as a driver (LeMan '64, Daytona Coupe w/Bondurant), builder, team owner, innovator! Heaven is a better place today with Dan in attendance.

Garry

[qwezxc12]

RIP Dan.

I just watched "The 24 Hour War" on Amazon this past weekend. Lots of vintage footage and great interviews not only with the folks involved in the Cobra, Daytona, and GT40 programs, but with Ferrari, too.

[Dave Smith]

A customer on Facebook mentioned how Factory Five is continuing to build cars of this legacy. I wrote, truth is that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants like Dan. Our obligation as a company is to do our very best to deserve the legacy he handed down to us. I understand that Factory Five Racing isn't a company that some MBA puke puts a price tag on, and it doesnt exist for the sole benefit of the owners. Dan Gurney taught me that leadership is service and obligation. Factory Five has a debt to pay to people who came before us and to our customers. We pay that debt by building machines, racing the machines we built, building friendship, fellowship and community, and by keeping the spirit of amercian motorsports in our hearts. In today's world of smack-talking pro athletes and social media where everyone is so self-important, Dan Gurney stands out in abject stark contrast. He did it all and was the last one to brag. I asked him who he thought was the greatest race car driver of all-time (the obvious answer was himself). He said his toughest competitor and greatest driver of all-time was Davey MacDonald. Dan Gurney was a class act and in a class all by himself.

[Gumball]

Godspeed, Dan.

[wallace18]

One of Americas finest IMO. I was fortunate to meet him several times when I raced IMSA in the 1980's. Great guy!

[Gumball]

A fitting tribute.....

[tonywy]

After reading what Dave Smith had to say I couldn't be more proud to own a FFR Roadster. Well said.

[phileas_fogg]

From my favorite sports writer, Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee):

http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/st...ns-sports-cars

"I've always told people that all you need to know about Dan Gurney you can see in this photo from Riverside '56."

Dan Gurney at Riverside CA 1956 by jhsitton, on Flickr