1974 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Fittipaldi and Regazzoni arrive at Watkins Glen level on points. Scheckter, seven points behind, holds an outside chance of taking the title.

Championship permutations

Fittipaldi and Regazzoni are even in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 52 points each. Scheckter, on 45 points, also holds an outside chance of overtaking them both.

Previous race

At Mosport, Lauda led from the start until he ran over debris on lap 67, spinning into the barriers. Fittipaldi inherited the lead and held it to win. Regazzoni finished second, Peterson third. Scheckter suffered a brake failure and crashed, ending his charge.

Between-race developments

Early in the year, Peter Revson — one of only five American drivers ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix — died in a testing crash before South Africa. The American crowd at Watkins Glen has two countrymen carrying their hopes: Mario Andretti in the Parnelli and Mark Donohue in the Penske, both driving American-built cars for American teams.

Entrants

Helmut Koinigg races in just his second Grand Prix here, having made his debut in Canada. This is also the last United States Grand Prix appearance for two-time World Champion Graham Hill, racing in his own Embassy Hill Lola.

Milestones

This is the final race of Denny Hulme’s Formula One career. He retires having scored 8 wins and 33 podium finishes across 112 starts.

Qualifying

Reutemann takes pole position ahead of Hunt. Andretti qualifies third after his provisional pole was lost to a rear brake failure that sent him off and damaged his nose and steering. Scheckter is sixth, Fittipaldi eighth, Regazzoni ninth. Donohue qualifies 14th in only the Penske team’s second race.

Weather

Sunday is a glorious day — clear and warm.