Emerson Fittipaldi claimed his first Formula One victory at Watkins Glen in only his fourth start, securing both titles for Lotus. Pedro Rodriguez finished second after a late fuel stop, while debutant Reine Wisell completed the podium on an emotional return for the team.
Race Guide
Season: 1970 F1 World Championship
Race date: 4 October 1970
Race start time: Start time unconfirmed local time (UTC-04:00)
Circuit: Watkins Glen International
Laps: 108 laps
Circuit length: 3.78 km
1969 winner: Jochen Rindt
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari |
| Pole time | 1:03.07 | |
| Fastest lap | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:02.740 on lap 105 | |
| First | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus |
| Second | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM |
| Third | Reine Wisell | Lotus |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2 October 1970 | Friday timed practice | 13:00–17:00 |
| 3 October 1970 | Saturday final qualifying | Start time unconfirmed |
| 4 October 1970 | Race | Start time unconfirmed |
All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.
Championship background
Jochen Rindt arrived at round 12 leading the 1970 F1 World Championship on 45 points, with Jacky Ickx on 28. Lotus – Ford headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 50 points.
Race entries
Lotus returned after missing Canada, pairing Fittipaldi with newcomer Wisell in place of Miles. Bell drove a second Surtees, and Hutchison made his championship debut in a privately entered Brabham. Westbury attempted to qualify a fourth BRM. With 27 drivers competing for 24 places, even reaching the grid was far from guaranteed.
Friday timed practice
Ickx led the way as Ferrari explored new Firestone tyres on the bumpy, partly resurfaced circuit. Stewart waited for alterations to the Tyrrell’s front suspension, then found that low-profile Dunlops caused the car to bottom out. Amon and Regazzoni were among the nearest challengers, while both Fittipaldi and Hill showed useful Lotus pace. Engine trouble left Siffert, Beltoise and de Adamich struggling, and extensive engine changes followed the session.
Saturday final qualifying
A heavy shower stopped the early running and left the circuit wet for much of the session. An extension after a delayed start proved decisive: the final quarter-hour produced a rush of improvements as the track dried. Stewart secured second, only five-hundredths ahead of Fittipaldi, but Ickx retained pole. Westbury, Lovely and de Adamich all suffered mechanical problems and failed to make the 24-car field.
Qualifying Classification
Each driver’s best eligible practice lap determined the qualifying order.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | 1:03.07 |
| 2 | 1 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell | 1:03.62 |
| 3 | 24 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus | 1:03.67 |
| 4 | 19 | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM | 1:04.18 |
| 5 | 12 | Chris Amon | March | 1:04.23 |
| 6 | 4 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari | 1:04.30 |
| 7 | 20 | Jackie Oliver | BRM | 1:04.37 |
| 8 | 17 | John Surtees | Surtees | 1:04.52 |
| 9 | 23 | Reine Wisell | Lotus | 1:04.79 |
| 10 | 14 | Graham Hill | Lotus | 1:04.81 |
| 11 | 8 | Denny Hulme | McLaren | 1:04.84 |
| 12 | 7 | Henri Pescarolo | Matra | 1:05.00 |
| 13 | 18 | Derek Bell | Surtees | 1:05.00 |
| 14 | 21 | George Eaton | BRM | 1:05.14 |
| 15 | 29 | Ronnie Peterson | March | 1:05.18 |
| 16 | 15 | Jack Brabham | Brabham | 1:05.29 |
| 17 | 2 | François Cevert | March | 1:05.30 |
| 18 | 6 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Matra | 1:05.44 |
| 19 | 16 | Rolf Stommelen | Brabham | 1:05.77 |
| 20 | 30 | Tim Schenken | De Tomaso | 1:06.08 |
| 21 | 9 | Peter Gethin | McLaren | 1:06.12 |
| 22 | 31 | Gus Hutchison | Brabham | 1:06.22 |
| 23 | 11 | Jo Siffert | March | 1:06.23 |
| 24 | 27 | Jo Bonnier | McLaren | 1:06.46 |
| DNQ | 32 | Peter Westbury | BRM | 1:07.20 |
| DNQ | 28 | Pete Lovely | Lotus | 1:07.45 |
| DNQ | 10 | Andrea de Adamich | McLaren | 1:12.24 |
What happened in the 1970 United States Grand Prix?
A pre-race shower prompted hurried tyre decisions before the delayed start. Stewart immediately took control, while Fittipaldi slipped back from third on the grid. Ickx moved into pursuit, but a broken fuel line forced him into the pits and left his championship hopes hanging by a thread.
Stewart built a huge advantage before an oil-system problem brought the Tyrrell to a halt. Rodriguez inherited the lead, only to run short of fuel with the finish approaching. His stop handed first place to Fittipaldi, who brought the Lotus home for a breakthrough victory. Rodriguez recovered second ahead of Wisell, with Ickx, Amon and Bell completing the points.
Ickx’s fourth place meant that he could no longer overtake Rindt, confirming the Austrian as World Champion posthumously. Fittipaldi’s win also secured the constructors’ title for Lotus. The team’s return produced a victory and a debut podium, offering a measure of sporting recovery after the loss of its leading driver.
After the race, Jochen Rindt headed the drivers’ standings with 45 points, followed by Jacky Ickx on 31. Lotus – Ford led the constructors’ table on 59, with Ferrari on 46.
1970 United States Grand Prix race results
The 1970 United States Grand Prix was held on 4 October 1970.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus | 108 | 1:57:32.79 | 9 |
| 2 | 19 | Pedro Rodríguez | BRM | 108 | + 36.39 | 6 |
| 3 | 23 | Reine Wisell | Lotus | 108 | + 45.17 | 4 |
| 4 | 3 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | 107 | + 1 Lap | 3 |
| 5 | 12 | Chris Amon | March | 107 | + 1 Lap | 2 |
| 6 | 18 | Derek Bell | Surtees | 107 | + 1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | 8 | Denny Hulme | McLaren | 106 | + 2 Laps | 0 |
| 8 | 7 | Henri Pescarolo | Matra | 105 | + 3 Laps | 0 |
| 9 | 11 | Jo Siffert | March | 105 | + 3 Laps | 0 |
| 10 | 15 | Jack Brabham | Brabham | 105 | + 3 Laps | 0 |
| 11 | 29 | Ronnie Peterson | March | 104 | + 4 Laps | 0 |
| 12 | 16 | Rolf Stommelen | Brabham | 104 | + 4 Laps | 0 |
| 13 | 4 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari | 101 | + 7 Laps | 0 |
| 14 | 9 | Peter Gethin | McLaren | 100 | + 8 Laps | 0 |
| Ret | 1 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell | 82 | Oil Leak | 0 |
| Ret | 14 | Graham Hill | Lotus | 72 | Clutch | 0 |
| Ret | 2 | François Cevert | March | 62 | Wheel | 0 |
| Ret | 30 | Tim Schenken | De Tomaso | 61 | Suspension | 0 |
| Ret | 27 | Jo Bonnier | McLaren | 50 | Water Pipe | 0 |
| Ret | 6 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Matra | 27 | Handling | 0 |
| Ret | 31 | Gus Hutchison | Brabham | 21 | Fuel Leak | 0 |
| Ret | 20 | Jackie Oliver | BRM | 14 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 21 | George Eaton | BRM | 10 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 17 | John Surtees | Surtees | 6 | Engine | 0 |
| DNQ | 32 | Peter Westbury | BRM | 0 | ||
| DNQ | 28 | Pete Lovely | Lotus | 0 | ||
| DNQ | 10 | Andrea de Adamich | McLaren | 0 |
1970 United States Grand Prix Fastest Laps
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Lap | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | 105 | 1:02.740 |
Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.
1970 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings after the 1970 United States Grand Prix.
1970 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
1970 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lotus – Ford | 59 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 46 |
| 3 | March – Ford | 45 |
| 4 | Brabham – Ford | 35 |
| 5 | McLaren – Ford | 31 |
| 6 | BRM | 22 |
| 7 | Matra | 21 |
| 8 | Surtees – Ford | 3 |
| — | McLaren – Alfa Romeo | 0 |
| — | De Tomaso – Ford | 0 |
| — | Bellasi – Ford | 0 |
| — | Tyrrell – Ford | 0 |
Drivers counted their best 6 results from rounds 1–7 and their best 5 from rounds 8–13. Only the highest-placed car for each constructor could score constructor points, with the same dropped-results limits applying.
1970 Formula 1 Race Calendar
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