Senna and Penske, a near match made in heaven

On this day in 1992, Ayrton Senna enjoyed a secret track day with Team Penske at Firebird Raceway, in Arizona.

The Brazilian had just wrapped up a disappointing F1 season in which he had only finished fourth in the championship. But it was Honda's decision to leave the sport that had Senna questioning his future.

Emerson Fittipaldi encouraged his good friend to sample his Penske IndyCar ride, which Senna readily accepted.

He ultimately didn't make the move to the US-based series, but the test yielded an impressive performance as he beat Fittipaldi's best lap time by half a second!

What could Senna accomplished had he raced in IndyCar? We'll never know...

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.