United States Grand Prix 1973 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Ronnie Peterson won at Watkins Glen in a race forever overshadowed by the death of François Cevert during Saturday's final practice session. The 29-year-old Frenchman, who had been poised to lead Tyrrell in 1974 after Stewart's planned retirement, was killed instantly when his Tyrrell 006 crashed in the treacherous uphill Esses section while battling Peterson for pole position. The car touched a curb, got airborne, and was torn apart upon impact with the barriers. Stewart and team owner Ken Tyrrell immediately withdrew from the race, and Stewart's career ended at 99 Grand Prix starts rather than the planned 100th.

Peterson's victory was utterly joyless, the Swedish driver visibly shaken by losing the man he had been competing against just hours earlier. Hunt's second place marked another strong result for the rising British star, while Reutemann's third place seemed inconsequential in the face of such tragedy. The race proceeded in somber fashion, with many questioning whether it should have been run at all. Cevert's death robbed Formula 1 of one of its brightest talents and most charismatic personalities, a driver who combined natural speed with Gallic charm and was universally liked in the paddock. For Stewart, what should have been a triumphant farewell became a nightmare, his third championship achievement forever linked with the loss of the young man he had mentored and considered like a son. The tragedy underscored the deadly dangers that still plagued Formula 1 despite Stewart's tireless safety campaigning, giving added urgency to his calls for improved circuit safety and better crash protection.