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50^th Anniversary Time Capsule Tuesday Bios

Dick Guldstrand/George Wintersteen/Ben Moore

Team Penske will be celebrating 50 years in motorsports in 2016. To help bring you many of the terrific stories of our five-decade run of excellence we will begin weekly online features, starting with today’s first “Time Capsule Tuesday.” We hope you enjoy this memorable time in our history.

Many look at the 2016 version of Team Penske and they see an organization that has won 16 Indianapolis 500s, two Daytona 500s and has campaigned successfully in both INDYCAR and NASCAR for many seasons. The current makeup of the team is of six world-class drivers who are among the best in their profession.

However, if you are looking to trace Team Penske history back to the moment when it all began, look no further than the dynamic sports car trio of Dick Guldstrand, George Wintersteen and Ben Moore. Driving the No. 6 Sunoco Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, this talented group made the first start in the history of Team Penske in the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona. Competing in the GT class the group captured the class win to give Team Penske a win in their first start.

It was truly a determined effort as early on in the race the front end of the Corvette received considerable damage, including knocking out both headlights that were to be crucial when the sun went down. Not to be deterred the team taped two flashlights to the front of the car and the team was able to win in spite of the tough luck early in the race.

A month later, at the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance event, the trio again took home a win in the GT class. Team Penske was now two-for-two with wins in the two most-famous endurance races in North America. It’s hard to imagine a more impressive beginning.

These two races would be the only starts for the team for Guldstrand and Moore. Wintersteen continued to race in both of the classic American events in 1967, but could not replicate the stunning, early success of 1966. However, these two victories proved vital in laying a foundation for future success in both sports car, INDYCAR, NASCAR and Formula 1.

When you think of winning over 400 races over the span of 50 years it’s easy to get lost in the bigger, more-glamorous victories at Indianapolis, Daytona or Charlotte. Team Penske has not forgotten the importance of what Guldstrand, Wintersteen and Moore did in 1966.