Awesome alert, Robert Wickens is in the house!

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The NTT IndyCar Series kicks off this weekend in St. Petersburg and their was a welcome sight in the paddock on Friday.

Six months after his horrendous at Pocono that left him with spinal injuries, Robert Wickens was back in the IndyCar house to salute his friends and colleagues on the eve of the season-opening event.

And both Mario Andretti (above) and Bobby Rahal (below) were in awe of the Canadian's determination as he moves forward one step at a time on the long and winding road to recovery

The Canadian's road to a full recovery will be long and winding, but Robert is stocked up on determination… and humour.

"It’s nice to be back in a world that I’m familiar with," he said off the bat.

"I’m doing well. Really I am. There’s obviously good days and bad days.

"Being back at a racetrack makes everything feel a whole lot better, although it’s a little bit strange to be on the far side of the pit wall.

"From my front, I’m getting some stuff back, getting better each day. A long road. You feel like you’re on that road trip — it’s the 100-mile road that’s a straight line the entire time without any scenery, and you’re just working as hard as you can to get to the end.

"We’re getting there, one step at a time. It’s basically all I can say — we’re making progress."

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.