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The 1971 United States Grand Prix, after the cancellation of the Mexican Grand Prix, was the final race of the season. With the large prize fund, the race attracted a very strong entry. Since the 1970 race, the circuit had undergone a major rebuilding. The track had been resurfaced and widened to a uniform 36 feet (11m) all around, and guard rail now lined the entire track. The pits (along with the start/finish line) had been moved, and more than doubled in size, with a four hundred foot long garage immediately behind. There was a new press building, new grandstands and a new section of track to the southwest, adding almost a mile to the length. Many were now describing the track as the finest road circuit in North America.

In the race itself, Tyrrell driver François Cevert scored his first (and, tragically, his only) Formula One victory.

Background[]

  • Brabham: For this race only, Chris Craft's car was entered with the factory team. Otherwise there were no changes.
  • BRM: The team had five entries again. Canadian John Cannon was supposed to rent a March to drive, but when the car was unavailable, he cut a deal for BRM's P153, and Helmut Marko got one of the P160s. All of the P160s except for Howden Ganley's car had Mark II cylinder heads.
  • Ferrari: The team had brought one of the 1970 312Bs as a spare, and Jacky Ickx used it in the race. Mario Andretti had a problem in that the USAC race at Trenton, NJ had been rained out the previous week, and was now scheduled to be held on the same day as the Grand Prix.
  • Lotus: Nothing changed since Mosport.
  • March: After skipping Mosport, Autodelta was back in support of Andrea de Adamich.
  • Matra: Nothing changed since Mosport.
  • McLaren: Nothing changed since Mosport, including the questions about the team's future.
    • The Roger Penske-entered car also had an issue, as Mark Donohue was supposed to drive in the same USAC race as Andretti. In case Donohue would be unable to drive at Watkins Glen, David Hobbs was selected as an alternate.
  • Surtees: Rolf Stommelen's frustrating season with Surtees ended a race early, when he contracted a tooth infection, and would not be able to drive. Mike Hailwood was already signed to drive the third car, so John Surtees had a competition during practice between Gijs van Lennep and Sam Posey for Stommelen's car. It was not until after practice that Surtees decided to let Posey drive. Surtees himself was driving the full-width nose and side radiator car that first appeared at Monza, and would be called a TS9B next season.
  • Tyrrell: For this race the team entered the original 001 chassis with new Can-Am Champion Peter Revson.

Entry list[]

The full entry list for the 1971 United States Grand Prix is outlined below:

No. Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Model Tyre
2 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United Kingdom Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 72D Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
3 Sweden Reine Wisell United Kingdom Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus 72D Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
4 Belgium Jacky Ickx Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B Ferrari 001 3.0 F12 F
5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 F
6 United States Mario Andretti Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B2 Ferrari 001/1 3.0 F12 F
7 New Zealand Denny Hulme United Kingdom Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M19A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
8 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 003 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
9 France François Cevert United Kingdom Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 002 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
10 United States Peter Revson United Kingdom Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 001 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
11 New Zealand Chris Amon France Equipe Matra Sports Matra MS120B Matra MS71 3.0 V12 G
12 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise France Equipe Matra Sports Matra MS120B Matra MS71 3.0 V12 G
14 Switzerland Jo Siffert United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 F
15 United Kingdom Peter Gethin United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 F
16 New Zealand Howden Ganley United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 F
17 Austria Helmut Marko United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 F
18 United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
19 Netherlands Gijs van Lennep United Kingdom Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
19 United States Sam Posey United Kingdom Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
20 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
21 France Henri Pescarolo United Kingdom Frank Williams Racing Cars March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
22 United Kingdom Graham Hill United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT34 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
23 Australia Tim Schenken United Kingdom Motor Racing Developments Ltd Brabham BT33 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
24 United Kingdom Chris Craft United Kingdom Ecurie Evergreen Brabham BT33 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
25 Sweden Ronnie Peterson United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
26 Italy Nanni Galli United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
27 Italy Andrea de Adamich United Kingdom STP March Racing Team March 711 Alfa Romeo T33 3.0 V8 F
28 Canada John Cannon United Kingdom Yardley Team BRM BRM P153 BRM P142 3.0 V12 F
29 Sweden Jo Bonnier Switzerland Ecurie Bonnier McLaren M7C Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
30 United States Pete Lovely United States Pete Lovely Volkswagen Lotus 69 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
31 United Kingdom David Hobbs United States Penske-White Racing McLaren M19A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
31 United States Mark Donohue United States Penske-White Racing McLaren M19A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G
32 Belgium Jacky Ickx Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312B Ferrari 001 3.0 F12 F
33 United States Skip Barber United States Gene Mason Racing March 711 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F

Practice Overview[]

Qualifying[]

Qualifying Results[]

Pos. No. Driver Constructor Time Gap
Friday Saturday
1 8 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 1:42.844 1:42.642
2 2 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford Cosworth 1:43.873 1:42.659 +0.017s
3 7 New Zealand Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford Cosworth 1:44.544 1:42.925 +0.283s
4 5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 1:43.227 1:43.002 +0.360s
5 9 France François Cevert Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 1:44.336 1:43.152 +0.510s
6* 6 United States Mario Andretti Ferrari 1:44.151 1:43.195 +0.553s
7 14 Switzerland Jo Siffert BRM 1:45.217 1:43.468 +0.826s
8 4 Belgium Jacky Ickx Ferrari 1:45.210 1:43.843 +1.201s
9 11 New Zealand Chris Amon Matra 1:46.440 1:43.970 +1.328s
10 3 Sweden Reine Wisell Lotus-Ford Cosworth 1:46.202 1:44.024 +1.382s
11 12 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra 1:44.752 1:44.067 +1.425s
12 25 Sweden Ronnie Peterson March-Ford Cosworth 1:47.816 1:44.193 +1.551s
13 16 New Zealand Howden Ganley BRM 1:44.638 1:44.430 +1.788s
14 18 United Kingdom John Surtees Surtees-Ford Cosworth 1:44.908 1:45.223 +2.266s
15 20 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Surtees-Ford Cosworth 1:45.801 1:45.094 +2.452s
16 23 Australia Tim Schenken Brabham-Ford Cosworth 1:45.110 1:46.702 +2.468s
17 17 Austria Helmut Marko BRM 1:48.143 1:45.204 +2.562s
18 19 United States Sam Posey Surtees-Ford Cosworth No Time 1:45.267 +2.625s
19* 31 United States Mark Donohue McLaren-Ford Cosworth No Time 1:45.378 +2.736s
20 22 United Kingdom Graham Hill Brabham-Ford Cosworth 1:47.480 1:45.448 +2.806s
21 10 United States Peter Revson Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth 1:45.681 1:45.515 +2.873s
22 21 France Henri Pescarolo March-Ford Cosworth 1:45.568 1:45.857 +2.926s
23 15 United Kingdom Peter Gethin BRM 1:45.568 1:45.857 +3.087s
24 31 United Kingdom David Hobbs McLaren-Ford Cosworth 1:48.497 1:46.270 +3.628s
25 26 Italy Nanni Galli March-Ford Cosworth 1:48.261 1:46.608 +3.966s
26 28 Canada John Cannon BRM 1:49.927 1:47.741 +4.829s
27 33 United States Skip Barber March-Ford Cosworth 1:49.910 1:47.673 +5.031s
28 27 Italy Andrea de Adamich March-Alfa Romeo 1:48.009 1:47.952 +5.310s
29* 19 Netherlands Gijs van Lennep Surtees-Ford Cosworth 1:50.158 1:48.029 +5.387s
30 24 United Kingdom Chris Craft Brabham-Ford Cosworth 1:49.421 1:48.698 +6.056s
31 29 Sweden Jo Bonnier McLaren-Ford Cosworth 1:51.212 1:49.391 +6.749s
32 30 United States Pete Lovely Lotus-Ford Cosworth 1:52.628 1:52.140 +9.498s
  • * Andretti, Donohue, and Van Lennep were not able to take the start of the race.
  • Ickx would be able to drive car #32 in the race.

Grid[]

Pos Pos Pos
Driver Driver Driver
______________
______________ 1
______________ 2 Jackie Stewart
3 Emerson Fittipaldi
Denny Hulme
______________
______________ 4
5 Clay Regazzoni
François Cevert
______________
______________ 6
______________ 7 Jo Siffert
8 Jacky Ickx
Chris Amon
______________
______________ 9
10 Reine Wisell
Jean-Pierre Beltoise
______________
______________ 11
______________ 12 Ronnie Peterson
13 Howden Ganley
John Surtees
______________
______________ 14
15 Mike Hailwood
Tim Schenken
______________
______________ 16
______________ 17 Helmut Marko
18 Sam Posey
Graham Hill
______________
______________ 19
20 Peter Revson
Henri Pescarolo
______________
______________ 21
______________ 22 Peter Gethin
23 David Hobbs
Nanni Galli
______________
______________ 24
25 John Cannon
Skip Barber
______________
______________ 26
______________ 27 Andrea de Adamich
28 Chris Craft
Jo Bonnier
______________
______________ 29
30 Pete Lovely


Race[]

Report[]

Results[]

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 9 France François Cevert United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 59 1:43:51.991 5 9
2 14 Switzerland Jo Siffert United Kingdom BRM 59 +40.062 6 6
3 25 Sweden Ronnie Peterson United Kingdom March-Ford 59 +44.070 11 4
4 16 New Zealand Howden Ganley United Kingdom BRM 59 +56.749 12 3
5 8 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 59 +1:00.003 1 2
6 5 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Italy Ferrari 59 +1:16.426 4 1
7 22 United Kingdom Graham Hill United Kingdom Brabham-Ford 58 +1 Lap 18  
8 12 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise France Matra 58 +1 Lap 10
9 15 United Kingdom Peter Gethin United Kingdom BRM 58 +1 Lap 21
10 31 United Kingdom David Hobbs United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 58 +1 Lap 22
11 27 Italy Andrea de Adamich United Kingdom March-Alfa Romeo 57 +2 Laps 26
12 11 New Zealand Chris Amon France Matra 57 +2 Laps 8
13 17 Austria Helmut Marko United Kingdom BRM 57 +2 Laps 16
14 28 Canada John Cannon United Kingdom BRM 56 +3 Laps 24
15 20 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Surtees-Ford 54 Accident 14
16 29 Sweden Jo Bonnier United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 54 Out of fuel 28
17 18 United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom Surtees-Ford 54 +5 Laps 13
NC 33 United States Skip Barber United Kingdom March-Ford 52 +7 Laps 25
Ret 4 Belgium Jacky Ickx Italy Ferrari 49 Alternator 7
NC 2 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 49 +10 Laps 2
NC 30 United States Pete Lovely United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 49 +10 Laps 29
Ret 7 New Zealand Denny Hulme United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 47 Accident 3
Ret 23 Australia Tim Schenken United Kingdom Brabham-Ford 41 Engine 15
Ret 24 United Kingdom Chris Craft United Kingdom Brabham-Ford 30 Suspension 27
Ret 21 France Henri Pescarolo United Kingdom March-Ford 23 Engine 20
Ret 19 United States Sam Posey United Kingdom Surtees-Ford 15 Engine 17
Ret 26 Italy Nanni Galli United Kingdom March-Ford 11 Accident damage 23
Ret 3 Sweden Reine Wisell United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 5 Brakes/accident 9
Ret 10 United States Peter Revson United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 1 Clutch 19
DNS 6 United States Mario Andretti Italy Ferrari     6*
DNS 31 United States Mark Donohue United Kingdom McLaren-Ford     19*
DNS 19 Netherlands Gijs van Lennep United Kingdom Surtees-Ford     29*

* = Position of driver among all 32 entrants.

Milestones[]

  • First championship Grand Prix race to time to thousandths of a second.
  • First race for Sam Posey.
  • Only victory for François Cevert, as he would be killed at this track two years later.
  • Final race for Jo Siffert, who would be killed three weeks later at the non-championship Rothmans World Championship.
  • Final race for Jo Bonnier, who would be killed at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Standings after race[]

Drivers' World Championship
Pos. Driver Pts +/-
1 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 62
2 Sweden Ronnie Peterson 33
4 France François Cevert 26
3= Belgium Jacky Ickx 19
3= Switzerland Jo Siffert 19 ▲3
5 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 16 ▼1
6 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni 13 ▲1
7 United States Mario Andretti 12
9= Mexico Pedro Rodríguez 9
9= New Zealand Chris Amon 9
9= United Kingdom Peter Gethin 9
9= Sweden Reine Wisell 9 ▲1
9= New Zealand Denny Hulme 9 ▲2
14= Australia Tim Schenken 5
14= New Zealand Howden Ganley 5 ▲6
16= France Henri Pescarolo 4 ▼1
16= United States Mark Donohue 4 ▼1
18= United Kingdom Mike Hailwood 3 ▼1
18= United Kingdom John Surtees 3 ▼1
18= West Germany Rolf Stommelen 3 ▼1
21 United Kingdom Graham Hill 2 ▼1
22 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise 1
Constructors' World Championship
Pos. Team Pts +/-
1 United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 73
2 United Kingdom BRM 36 ▲1
3= Italy Ferrari 33 ▼1
3= United Kingdom March-Ford 33 (34) ▲1
5 United Kingdom Lotus-Ford 21
6 United Kingdom McLaren-Ford 10
7 France Matra 9
8 United Kingdom Surtees-Ford 8
9 United Kingdom Brabham-Ford 5

References[]

V T E United States United States Grand Prix
Circuits Sebring (1959), Riverside (1960), Watkins Glen (1961–1980), Phoenix (1989–1991), Indianapolis (2000–2007), Austin (2012–present)
CircuitoftheAmericas2012
Formula One Races 19591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981–19881989199019911992–1999200020012002200320042005200620072008–2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Non-F1 races 1908190919101911191219131914191519161917–1957 • 1958
See also Miami Grand PrixLas Vegas Grand PrixUnited States Grand Prix WestIndianapolis 500Detroit Grand PrixCaesars Palace Grand PrixDallas Grand PrixQuestor Grand Prix
V T E 1971 Formula One Season
Constructors Bellasi • Brabham • BRM • Ferrari • Lotus • March • Matra • McLaren • Surtees • Tyrrell
Engines Alfa Romeo • BRM • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Matra
Drivers De Adamich • Amon • Andretti • Barber • Bell • Beltoise • Beuttler • Bonnier • Cannon • Cevert • Charlton • Craft • Donohue • Eaton • Elford • Fittipaldi • Galli • Ganley • Gethin • Hailwood • Hill • Hobbs • Hulme • Ickx • Jarier • Jean • Lauda • van Lennep • Love • Lovely • Marko • Mazet • Moser • Oliver • Pescarolo • Peterson • Posey • Pretorius • Redman • Regazzoni • Revson • Rodríguez • Schenken • Siffert • Soler-Roig • Stewart • Stommelen • Surtees • Walker • Wisell
Cars Bellasi F1 70 • Brabham BT33 • Brabham BT34 • BRM P153 • BRM P160 • Ferrari 312B • Ferrari 312B2 • Lotus 56B • Lotus 69 • Lotus 72C • Lotus 72D • March 701 • March 711 • Matra MS120B • McLaren M7C • McLaren M14A • McLaren M19A • Surtees TS7 • Surtees TS9 • Tyrrell 001 • Tyrrell 002 • Tyrrell 003
Tyres Goodyear • Firestone
Races South Africa • Spain • Monaco • Netherlands • France • Britain • Germany • Austria • Italy • Canada • United States
Non-championship Races Argentina • Race of Champions • Questor • Spring Trophy • International Trophy • Jochen Rindt • Gold Cup • World Championship
See also 1970 Formula One Season • 1972 Formula One Season • Category
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