Penske and Pagenaud draw first blood at the Brickyard

©IndyCar

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©IndyCar

Simon Pagenaud led a Penske 1-2 on the first day of testing for the 2018 Indy 500, edging out part-time team mate Helio Castroneves with 225.787 mph average lap.

An 11-time winner in IndyCar, the 33-year-old French driver won the series' title in 2016 but has yet to bring home the big one, a victory at the Brickyard.

Simon is in the right team to make it happen however, with Roger Penske dominating the stats at Indianapolis with a massive 16 wins as a team owner, the first of which was in 1972 with Mark Donohue.

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.