Race and classic pictures

The first of Roger Penske's seventeen Indy 500 wins

Yesterday, Will Power delivered to Roger Penske his 17th Indy 500 win as a team owner, but when did it all start for 'The Captain' and his crew?

Team Penske's maiden triumph at the Brickyard came in 1972, with Mark Donohue at the wheel of an immaculate customer McLaren M16/B.

The race was actually led for 138 laps by Donohue's team mate, Gary Bettenhausen, a highly experienced oval racer. A water leak put him out of contention however and handed the lead to Jerry Grant. The latter pitted for a new tyre and fuel on lap 188 in teammate Bobby Unser’s pit - a mistake for which he would later be disqualified.

Donohue led only the final 13 laps of the race, but that was all it took to have his face engraved on the coveted Borg Warner Trophy and initiate Penske's successful run at Indianapolis.

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.

Recent Posts

One British F1 driver's forgettable season with McLaren

Ex-F1 driver Mark Blundell was born on this day 60 years ago. The British charger…

1 hour ago

Fornaroli steps up development with McLaren at Silverstone

Rising Italian talent Leonardo Fornaroli took another significant step in his Formula 1 development on…

2 hours ago

‘No point in hiding’: Aston Martin faces its F1 crisis head-on

The mood around Aston Martin may appear heavy from the outside, but within its Silverstone…

3 hours ago

Where it all began: Ayrton Senna’s first F1 car heads to auction

A remarkable piece of Formula 1 history is set to go under the hammer later…

3 hours ago

Echoes in the Eifel: Formula 1 returns to the Nürburgring

The silence of a month-long racing hiatus for F1 is about to be broken by…

6 hours ago

Antonelli stays grounded amid growing Russell title fight talk

Kimi Antonelli may be leading the Formula 1 world championship, but the young Italian is…

22 hours ago