1976 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hunt won in Canada and closed the gap to 8 points. Lauda had been running fifth before handling problems dropped him out of the points entirely, finishing eighth.

Previous race

Hunt won at Mosport Park after taking the lead back from Peterson on lap 10. The March pair of Peterson and Brambilla fell away, leaving Hunt to hold off Depailler and Andretti for the full distance.

Entrants

This race is also referred to as the United States Grand Prix East, distinguishing it from the Long Beach event held in March. Watkins Glen draws 100,000 spectators — the largest paying crowd ever to attend a race at the circuit.

During Friday qualifying, an air bottle fell off Hunt’s McLaren and struck Depailler’s Tyrrell, breaking both front wheels and damaging the monocoque. Depailler could manage only seventh-quickest on the day. Hunt, standing beside the stray bottle in the pits, was asked by journalist Rob Walker whether it was the one he had thrown at Depailler. Hunt replied: “No, we are keeping that one for Niki on Sunday!”

Saturday’s rain was worse than Friday’s, so the grid is based on Friday times. Stuppacher failed to qualify; he is the only non-starter.