Race and classic pictures

Josef Newgarden is ready to roll with new IndyCar

Team Penske's Josef Newgarden, the 2017 Veroizon IndyCar champion, showed off his sleek new racer yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show.

The 27-year-old recently tested the new car which has kept its Dallara foundation but received a whole new aerodynamic kit which, as Newgarden says, looks "awesome".

"I mean, this is what an IndyCar should look like, so I think everyone’s pretty thrilled about that," said the American who many - except perhaps for Haas' Guenther Steiner - would like to see one day in Formula 1.

"Looks were not the first priority — actually the performance was, but looks were secondary, and we wanted it to look good and I think they really achieved both objectives."

The 2018 IndyCar season gets underway on March 11 on the streets of St. Petersburg in Florida.

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.