- United States Grand Prix
Clark leads home Hill in Lotus one-two
Jim Clark won the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, with team-mate Graham Hill taking second to complete a memorable weekend for Lotus.
It was almost anything but. As the race neared its conclusion, a support broke on the top of Clark's right rear suspension, causing the wheel to sag inward and forcing him to slow when cornering. Hill was in no position to take advantage and both Lotuses eventually spluttered over the line with Denny Hulme, who briefly seemed set to pip them both, back in third after running out of fuel.
The Lotus pair dominated practice and took an early lead, but to the delight of the 80,000 crowd Dan Gurney passed Clark to take second but soon after he was forced to retire with suspension problems.
Chris Amon then took up the pursuit of the Lotuses, and he was involved in an odd incident with John Surtees as he lapped him for the third time. Surtees objected to hand signals from Amon and re-passed the Ferrari, but with his Honda misfiring it was a brief battle.
Hill led until he suffered from gear problems, allowing Clark to overtake and then Amon nipped in to take second. But the perennially unlucky Amon then lost oil pressure allowing Hill to regain second, but despite his handicap, Amon again passed Hill before his Ferrari ran out of oil altogether.
Clark's lead with two laps to go was 45 seconds; with one lap remaining it was 23 seconds but both Lotuses were struggling. Fortunately for them, Hulme was also having his own difficulties back in third.
At the end thousands of spectators poured onto the track even though cars were still running. During the race itself there were also issues as dozens of people managed to get to the edge of the circuit to take photographs with no attempts made to get them back to a safe distance away.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
