Tyrrell’s François Cevert celebrated the only victory of his Formula 1 career in the 1971 season finale, the 16th running of the United States Grand Prix. In a conflict that would be unfathomable today, Mario Andretti (Ferrari) and Mark Donohue (McLaren) were unavailable to race at Watkins Glen after the scheduling of a USAC race in Trenton, New Jersey on the same day, but that didn’t stop the field from attracting a full grid of 30 cars.
BRM’s Jo Siffert and March’s Ronnie Peterson completed the podium, while Jackie Stewart, Cevert’s Tyrrell teammate who had locked up the championship three races prior, placed fifth. Unfortunately, Cevert would lose his life at this same track two years later, never knowing that Stewart planned to retire and hand over lead driver status to the Frenchman for 1974.
METAL FUEL + RUBBER 