1962 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hill leads the championship heading into the penultimate round. A Clark win here would keep the title fight alive going to South Africa.

Previous race

Hill won at Monza for a BRM 1–2 with Ginther second. Clark started on pole but pitted after two laps with gearbox trouble — the team had no spares left after the weekend — and retired shortly after. There was a race-long three-way battle for the final podium position between Gurney, McLaren, and Maggs, from which McLaren emerged third, passing Mairesse’s Ferrari on the first corner of the final lap by 0.4 seconds.

Entrants

Ferrari has withdrawn for the third consecutive race outside Europe, citing ongoing strikes in Italy. It has been a miserable year for the team: no victories, and a sixth-place standing in the Constructors’ Championship after winning it in 1961. American Phil Hill — without a drive at his home race for the third year running — learned from a reliable source at Watkins Glen that he has been fired by Ferrari. Jack Brabham races the BT3 for just its second championship outing.

Practice

In Friday qualifying, Hill, Ginther, Clark and Brabham all bettered the previous year’s lap record of 1:18.2. Clark then set a 1:15.8, shattering the absolute course record that had stood since Stirling Moss set it under the 2.5-litre formula. Damp and misty conditions on Saturday prevented anyone from improving on their Friday times.