Button snatches P9 for Suzuka 1000km

Jenson Button qualified his Mugen Honda NSX ninth for tomorrow's Super GT Suzuka 1000km event.

The McLaren driver, who is sharing his drive this weekend with Hideki Mutoh and Saisuke Nakajima, was handed qualifying duties in Q1 but just missed out making it into Q2 by 0.089s.

" Enjoyed Q1 today in the Mugen Honda NSX, got a bit of traffic from the 23 car but apart from that I was pretty happy with my lap," he wrote on Instagram.

"More importantly I think we've got a good race car for tomorrow's Suzuka 1000km."$

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.