Nigel Mansell's first foray into the world of Indycar could hardly have gone better as he broke the track record at Phoenix Raceway in a Lola-Ford.
Mansell tuned his back on F1 after winning the drivers' championship in 1992 after a falling out with Williams. He went on to win that year's Indycar title and so was the only man to simultaneously hold the Indycar and F1 crowns - when he secured the US championship, the F1 version was still undecided.
1978
Franck Montagny was born in Feurs, France. He raced for Jordan and then Super Aguri in 2005 and 2006, and continued to pursue a Formula One drive while competing in Indycar in the USA.
2008
Lewis Hamilton agreed a five-year deal reportedly worth £70 million to remain with McLaren. He rewarded the investment by going on to secure the season's drivers' championship.
1938
English racing driver Keith Greene was born in London; he competed in F1 from 1959 till 1962. After he retired from driving he worked as a team manager for many different teams, in lower formula, until he retired in the mid 1990s.
2008
Brands Hatch - and three other circuits - were bought by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer , ending fears they would be snapped up by property developers.
