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Dan Gurney: All American Racer(Part 4)
Indy Car RacesDan Gurney's introduction to American open-wheel racing was at four Formula Libre (open formula) races, where he had great success. Of those four starts, he placed 2nd driving a 3-litre Ferrari in a 1958 race at Watkins Glen, and drove an Arciero Lotus 18 to victory in a 1962 race in Bossier City, Lousiana and a 1963 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Entering the Indianapolis 500 scene at a time when the front-engined Offy Roadster was king, Dan introduced European-style rear engined cars to the Speedway. Driving a Mickey Thompson special in the 1962 race, he qualified 8th, but DNF'd with a broken differential. In 1963 and 1964, Dan drove for the Lotus-Ford team and qualified strong both times. He ended the 1963 race in 7th, but DNF'd in 1964 because of tire problems that also plagued team mate Jim Clark. In 1963, Dan placed 3rd in the Indy car race at Milwaukee. 1965 saw the formation of All American Racers, and in that year's "500," he drove his own Lotus-Ford to a front-row qualifying position, but again DNF'd, this time with engine problems. Dan again placed 3rd in the race at Milwaukee. 1966 was the debut of the all-new Eagle, but the start of the race was a disaster. Dan was caught in the multi-car pile-up on the opening lap and his race was over before it started. For the 1967 race, he qualified in the middle of the front row and was in a strong position when a broken valve put him out. But the year ended with Dan's first Indy car victory in the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside. For the 1968 "500," Dan had a new model Eagle, which he drove to a strong 2nd place finish behind Bobby Unser, who won in an Offy-powered Eagle. 1968 continued to be a strong year for Dan, and his Eagle won both heats at the Mosport, Canada event and again at the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside. During 1962 to 1968, Dan's participation in the USAC Indy car series was limited because of his full-time commitment to the Grand Prix circuit. But in 1969, he devoted almost full-time effort to the Indy car series. For the second year in a row, he placed 2nd in the "500." And in his six outings, he never placed lower than 4th -- including victories in the first heat at Indianapolis Raceway Park and the second heat at Brainerd, Minnesota; 2nd place at Castle Rock, Colorado and the first heat at Brained; and 3rd place in the first heat at Kent, Washington and at the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside. Dan finished the 1969 USAC Indy car championship in 4th place -- not bad for a "road racer." Dan ended his Indy car driving career in 1970 with a 3rd place at the "500," a victory at Sears Point, California, and a DNF while running 3rd at Ontario, California. During 1962 to 1970, Dan Gurney started 28 Indy car races, winning 7 times and placing second 4 times and third 5 times. He also started 4 Formula Libre races, winning 2 times and placing second 1 time.
Indy Car Race Record
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