Penske’s new team, which consisted of only six employees at the time, entered the Corvette into its inaugural race, the first 24-hour version of the Daytona Continental. Wearing factory red paint, the car sustained heavy front-end damage during the night portion of the endurance race, knocking out its headlights. Despite the setback, co-driver Dick Guldstrand famously followed the taillights of a competitor to continue racing. Driven by Guldstrand and George Wintersteen, the Corvette went on to finish first in the GT class and eleventh overall.
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Following its success at Daytona, the Corvette was repainted in the now-iconic Sunoco blue livery at the request of Penske’s sponsor. Later that year, the team entered the car in the 12 Hours of Sebring with drivers Wintersteen and Ben Moore. It won its class again and finished ninth overall, tying the record for the highest finish ever for a Corvette.