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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1961 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1961)]] |
| |title=<center>1961 United States Grand Prix</center>
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| |image=1961unitedstatesgrandprix1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Programme for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1961 United States Grand Prix''''' was the eighth and final race of the 1961 Formula One Season. Occurring on 8th October at Watkins Glen, the race, one of a few World Championship events not to feature Ferrari, was ultimately won by Lotus-Climax's Innes Ireland, his sole World Championship victory and Team Lotus'
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| first. It also marked the final World Championship start for Stirling Moss.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1961 United States Grand Prix'' was the 11th running of the event, lasting for 100 laps.<ref name="ultimate">[https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/winners/&race=usa_grand_prix ''Ultimate Car Page'' detailing the instances of the United States Grand Prix.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1961_United_States_Grand_Prix/F/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref> The second instance as part of the Formula One World Championship, the United States Grand Prix would be held at Watkins Glen from 1961 to 1980.<ref name="history">[https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/10012dee-ff87-4a94-b743-6cc09e858468/beginners-guide-history-formula-one-usa ''Williams F1'' detailing the history of the United States Grand Prix.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref name="ultimate"/> Since then, the race has been held on and off as part of the Formula One calendar, before making an annual return from 2012 onwards, being held at the Circuit of the Americas.<ref name="history"/><ref name="ultimate"/>
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| Heading into the event, it was confirmed that Ferrari were to be absent.<ref name="second">[http://second-a-lap.blogspot.com/2014/09/gp-61-round-8-iv-united-states-grand.html ''A Second A Lap'' providing a race report.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref name="grand">[https://www.grandprix.com/races/united-states-gp-1961.html ''Grand Prix'' summarising the race.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref name="autosport">[http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html ''Autosport'' providing a race report, and detailing Howard Hughes' appearance at the event.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref> Having already secured both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles, the team opted to withdraw from the race following legal issues in Italy concerning the deaths of Wolfgang von Trips and 15 spectators at the [[1961 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)|1961 Italian Grand Prix]].<ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="autosport"/> World Champion and American driver Phil Hill was not granted a Ferrari car despite numerous sums of money being offered to Enzo Ferrari to change his mind, nor was released from his Ferrari contract, so was forced to attend only as the Grand Marshal for the event.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/> However, other American stars such as Porsche's Dan Gurney, as well as one-off competitors like Cooper-Climax's Roger Penske and Lotus-Climax's Jim Hall were to compete in qualifying.<ref name="grand"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/> After most spent the first qualifying session learning the track, the second saw many of the fastest times be posted. Cooper-Climax's Jack Brabham achieved pole position with a time of 1:17.<ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was BRM's Graham Hill, with Moss lining up third in a Rob Walker Lotus-Climax.<ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="results"/> Ireland would start eighth out of 19 competitors.<ref name="results"/><ref name="second"/>
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| Also of note is that business tycoon Howard Hughes was present in the pits, where he proceeded to discuss potentially buying Cooper Cars from John Cooper.<ref name="autosport"/> Ultimately, no deal was made, although Cooper later stated that had an offer been made, he would have accepted it.<ref name="autosport"/> The encounter is significant because it marked the final known public appearance of Hughes, whose worsening mental and physical health saw him delve further into a reclusive existence for the remaining years of his life.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20161205-was-howard-hughes-really-insane ''BBC'' detailing the life of Howard Hughes.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref name="autosport"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1961 United States Grand Prix commenced on 8th October.<ref name="results"/> While Brabham led the field at the start, it was Moss who then moved up into first after having overtaken the Australian and Graham Hill.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> On lap 3, Ireland attempted to overtake Hill, but a spin saw it fall down to 11th.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/> However, he made a strong recovery, eventually moving up to fourth behind Cooper-Climax's Bruce McLaren on lap 8.<ref name="second"/> Two laps earlier, Brabham re-passed Moss for first, but the pair would engage in swapping the lead throughout the early stages of the event.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> By lap 34, Moss had overtaken Brabham in a few instances, but the Cooper proved faster on the uphill climb, enabling Brabham to regain the lead.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="results"/> McLaren meanwhile lost fifth gear and proved easy pickings for Ireland and Hill.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/> On lap 39, Moss again passed Brabham, the latter now experiencing engine issues following a loss of coolant.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="results"/> A pit stop for water did not resolve the situation, and he retired on lap 58.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/>
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| A lap later, Moss would also retire following an engine failure.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> This would mark his final appearance in the World Championship; an accident at the non-championship 1962 Glover Trophy saw him suffer serious injuries, and he elected to retire from Formula One when he felt he lacked the concentration he held previously.<ref name="moss">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42755139 ''BBC'' detailing Moss' career.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref> Having finished runners-up four times and in third place three times, Moss is considered by many to be one of the greatest drivers never to win the Drivers' Championship.<ref name="moss"/> Following Moss' retirement, Ireland led ahead of Hill.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> Despite Hill providing pressure towards Ireland for the next 15 laps, the Lotus driver held strong, while Hill would be forced into the pits on lap 74 to fix a loose magneto cover.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/> Ireland's next rival was Cooper-Climax's Roy Salvadori, who was closing the gap after Ireland began experiencing fuel pressure issues.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/> With five laps remaining, Salvadori was five seconds behind Ireland, and seemed set to claim victory.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/> Ultimately, he retired with three laps remaining following an engine failure.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/>
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| Thus, Gurney moved up to second, but was unable to challenge Ireland.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/> Thus, the latter claimed victory, the first for the works Team Lotus, and eight points in the Drivers' Championship.<ref name="second"/><ref name="autosport"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> This proved to be Ireland's only World Championship victory, with him being dropped by the team less than a week later.<ref name="autosport"/> Gurney finished second, while BRM's Tony Brooks claimed third in his final race before retiring from Formula One.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> McLaren was fourth, Hill recovered to finish fifth, while Porsche's Jo Bonnier finished two laps down in sixth.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="second"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="grand"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to Issue 1,978 of ''Radio Times'', the BBC televised highlights of the race as part of ''Sportsview'' on 11th October 1961.<ref name="radio">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1961-10-11#at-20.15 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the ''Sportsview'' broadcast.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref><ref>[https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?cid=8D94CC199E340254&resid=8D94CC199E340254!149 List of Formula One television broadcasts noting the BBC provided highlights of the race.] Retrieved 1st Oct '22</ref> Included in the 30-minute broadcast was a preview of the 1961 Ryder Cup, and a film of water skiing at the Princes Club. The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is seemingly publicly available.
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1953)]]
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| *[[1953 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1953)]]
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| *[[1954 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1954)]]
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| *[[1954 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1954)]]
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| *[[1955 Dutch Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1955 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1955 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1956 Belgian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 French Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1957 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1957)]]
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| *[[1957 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1957)]]
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| *[[1958 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1958 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1958 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1959 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Portuguese Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1960 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 French Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Portuguese Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Belgian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1961 Dutch Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1961 French Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1961 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[2005 San Marino Grand Prix (partially found ITV advert break during final laps of Formula One race; 2005)]]
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| *[[Advanced Driving with Graham Hill (lost ITV motoring series; 1974)]]
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| *[[Donkey Does F1 (partially found photos of Shrek character inflatable at Formula One races; 2004)]]
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| *[[F-1 World Grand Prix III (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 Formula One racing game; 2000-2001)]]
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| *[[F1 2000 (lost pre-release builds of Formula One game; 2000)]]
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| *[[F1 2010 (lost pre-alpha build of Formula One game; 2010)]]
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| *[[F1 Racing Championship 2 (lost build of cancelled PC/PlayStation 2 Formula One game; 2001)]]
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| *[[Fernando Alonso's 2015 testing accident (lost footage of Formula One test session crash; 2015)]]
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| *[[Grand Prix 3 (lost build of cancelled Dreamcast port of PC Formula One racing game; 2001)]]
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| *[[Grand Prix 4 (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of PC Formula One racing game sequel; 2002)]]
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| *[[McLaren MP4-18 (lost footage of unraced Formula One car; 2003)]]
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| *[[Racing Arrows (partially found Formula One TV series; 2001)]]
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| *[[Robert Kubica's 2010 Japanese Grand Prix Q3 lap (lost audio of Formula One qualifying lap; 2010)]]
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| *[[Williams FW15C (partially found footage and lap time information of unraced CVT Formula One car; 1993)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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| [[Category:Historic]]
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