Andretti fires successful opening salvo in Argentina

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On this day in 1978, Mario Andretti kicked off his banner championship winning year with Lotus with a lights-to-flag dominant victory in the season-opening Argentine Grand Prix.

The American was still driving the team's 78 car in Buenos Aires, but Colin Chapman's revolutionary Lotus 79 ground-effect design was on its way.

The trail blazing wing-car It would appear a few months later at the sixth round in Belgium, where Super Mario would clinch the second of the six wins he would achieve that year, en route to his maiden world crown in F1.

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.