United States Grand Prix 1960 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Stirling Moss closed out the 1960 season in spectacular fashion with a commanding victory at Riverside International Raceway in California, reminding everyone of his extraordinary talent in the season's final race. The British maestro dominated proceedings in his Rob Walker-entered Lotus 18, controlling the race from start to finish on the challenging desert road course. Moss's victory at Riverside was particularly impressive given that he was once again competing in privateer equipment against works teams, yet his superior racecraft and technical understanding allowed him to extract maximum performance from his Lotus. The win provided a perfect ending to a season that had seen Moss produce several virtuoso performances, even if lack of competitive machinery prevented him from mounting a sustained championship challenge. His two victories in 1960 confirmed his status as the most naturally gifted driver of his generation.

Innes Ireland delivered his best result of the season with second place in the works Team Lotus entry, giving Colin Chapman's team a one-two finish at the California circuit. Bruce McLaren secured third place for Cooper, ensuring he finished the season as runner-up in the championship standings to his teammate Jack Brabham. The young New Zealander's consistency throughout the year had earned him 34 points, though he was unable to seriously challenge his more experienced teammate's dominance. The Riverside race marked the end of a historic season that had witnessed the complete triumph of the rear-engine revolution, with Cooper and Brabham establishing themselves as the dominant force in Formula 1. As the teams packed up and headed home, the question was not whether rear-engine designs would prevail, but rather how quickly the remaining holdouts would adapt to the new reality.