The Bernie meme makes it to IndyCar!

©Twitter/@indy44

Unless you've been living in a cave or were deprived of social media yesterday, you'll have inevitably seen the instant meme-ifiction of US senator Bernie Sanders on the internet.

Sanders was spotted at the inauguration on Wednesday of President Joe Biden sitting cross-legged, wearing a mask, jacket and mittens. And the 79-year-old's 'grumpy chic' pose was all the internet needed to spring into action and virally insert the photo into popular scenes from movies, television shows, sports and more.

Predictably, the motorsport peeps also took part in the action, with one Matt Archuleta - @indy44 - posting on Twitter the most "smashing" meme of all: Bernie nonchalantly sat at Gateway watching Alexander Rossi walk away from mayhem on the first lap!

Rossi himself gave @indy44 a "fantastic" thumbs up.

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.