The news started coming in through twitter from team owner and driver Bobby Rahal and later confirmed by his wife, Evi.
His wife gave a statement to racer.com.
"With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today, January 14, 2018," said Evi.
"In deep sorrow, with gratitude in our hearts for the love and joy you have given us during your time on this earth, we say 'Godspeed'."
The late Gurney is among the best drivers and team owner in the world and in America he ranks at the top of the list of great drivers ever.
Apart from Formula One (1962), NASCAR (1963) and IndyCar (1967) he has victories in Trans-Am, Can-Am, Indy 500, Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and many more.
Only Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya has won all three races (Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar).
His All-American Racing team (AAR) was started in 1966 and after retirement he ran AAR until 2011.
AAR won 78 races across the world with sports cars and open-wheel cars.
In June 1967 was the year he begun to shine as he won the 24-hour Le-Mans race for Ford (GT40) along with A.J. Foyt.
He invented the champagne spray celebrations at the podium as well that day.
Gurney also has a hand in changing the aerodynamics in helmets for drivers.
'The Gurney flap' pioneered closed face helmets for drivers.
He was the first driver to wear a closed face helmet.
In 1978 he wrote the famous "white paper" that argued about overhauling the American open-wheel racing.
Gurney was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
He is also a member of the Motorsport Hall of Fame of America.
Gurney is survived by his wife and four sons: Justin, Alex, Jimmy and Dan Jr.
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