Everyone tries especially hard to do well at the Grand Prix of the United States for it is here that a season’s profit or loss can be made. First prize is $50,000, the runner-up can expect $20,000, third man $12,000 and from then on downwards to $6,000 for the first man to retire, far more than the teams could ever expect in Europe. The organisers afford it because their publicity machine is able to tempt a genuine 100,000 people to the circuit paying an average of about $12 each for the privilege and because the Grand Prix Corporation is a non-profit-making organisation which, thanks to the enthusiasm of the people concerned, happens to work here.
This year was an important one in the history of the race for the circuit had been completely revised so that with new pits, widened track for its complete length and a well designed and difficult undulating extra mile it was very hard to recognise the circuit as the same place. The extra width and length also had the advantage that a larger number of cars could be raced and 29 plus one reserve entry was accepted.
Substantially the list was the same as at Mosport Park two weeks earlier but there were some additions plus a driver change or two. Numerically the order was as follows with last year’s winner, Emerson Fittipaldi heading the list at number 2 (No. 1 was left blank in memory of Rindt). Thus Wisell was next up and the pair were in their regular Lotus 72s in D specification although Fittipaldi’s car was built in 1970 and Wisell’s this year.
