| rdfs:comment | - Colors = id:canvas value:rgb(0.937,0.937,0.937) id:linemark value:gray(0.8) id:linemark2 value:gray(0.9) BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas PlotData = mark:(line,linemark) from:start till:end color:yellow shift:(20,-5) text:Ronnie Peterson (Laps 1-59) The tragic death of Cevert caused Ken Tyrrell to withdraw the sister cars of Stewart and Chris Amon from the meeting, meaning the Scot would miss-out on his 100th and final race start. All the other entrants would take the grid on Sunday, however, with Ronnie Peterson on pole ahead of Carlos Reutemann.
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| abstract | - Colors = id:canvas value:rgb(0.937,0.937,0.937) id:linemark value:gray(0.8) id:linemark2 value:gray(0.9) BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas PlotData = mark:(line,linemark) from:start till:end color:yellow shift:(20,-5) text:Ronnie Peterson (Laps 1-59) The 1973 United States Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XVI Grand Prix of the United States, was the fifteenth and final round of the 1973 FIA Formula One World Championship, held on the 7th of October at Watkins Glen. Unfortunately the entire weekend, which was set to see Lotus and Tyrrell duel for the International Cup for Manufacturers, would be overshadowed by the death of François Cevert in practice. The Frenchman was killed in the second of the three practice/qualifying sessions, having lost control through the Esses and slammed into the barrier. Cevert was killed on impact after his car smashed through the Armco and wrapped itself around the remains of the steel rails. The Frenchman had been seen talking to his teammate, and mentor, Jackie Stewart about the combination just a few minutes earlier. The tragic death of Cevert caused Ken Tyrrell to withdraw the sister cars of Stewart and Chris Amon from the meeting, meaning the Scot would miss-out on his 100th and final race start. All the other entrants would take the grid on Sunday, however, with Ronnie Peterson on pole ahead of Carlos Reutemann. It was with heavy hearts that the race got underway on Sunday, with Peterson streaking into an early lead while Reutemann held onto second. The opening laps then proved to be fairly tame with very little action, until James Hunt elbowed the Argentinian out of the way for second. Hunt quickly caught onto the back of Peterson over the following laps, although the Brit was unable to get his March ahead of the Lotus. They were still being stalked by Reutemann, while Denny Hulme climbed up the order to fourth after his customary poor start. Emerson Fittipaldi ran in fifth for most of the race, but was forced to pit for a new set of tyres after slamming onto the brakes to avoid Hulme's spinning teammate Jody Scheckter. The order then remained stable for the rest of the race, although Hunt tried every trick he knew to try and snatch a shock victory. He, however, would ultimately fall shy of a maiden win at the season finale, with Peterson holding out with a six tenth lead. Reutemann was second ahead of the two McLarens of Hulme and Peter Revson, while Fittipaldi recorded to sixth. The result handed Team Lotus the International Cup for Manufacturers, although they had already done so the moment Tyrrell withdrew their entries. As for 1973 World Champion Stewart, Cevert's death effectively ended any chance of him returning from his retirement, the Scot also falling one race shy of the 100 mark.
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