United States Grand Prix 1991 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Ayrton Senna opened the 1991 season with a dominant victory at Phoenix, immediately establishing McLaren-Honda as the team to beat and signaling his intent to claim a third World Championship. The Brazilian led from pole position and controlled the race with authority, demonstrating the MP4/6's superiority over the rest of the field despite suffering gearbox problems in the closing stages. Senna's victory was a statement of dominance that would set the tone for one of the most one-sided championship campaigns in Formula 1 history.

Alain Prost finished second for Ferrari after returning from his sabbatical year, showing that while the Scuderia had improved over the winter, they still lacked the pace to challenge McLaren consistently. The four-time World Champion drove a measured race to collect valuable points, though he was powerless to challenge Senna's superior machinery. Nelson Piquet completed the podium for Benetton in third place, with the Brazilian veteran demonstrating he remained a competitive force despite being in the twilight of his career.

The race highlighted the growing competitiveness of Williams-Renault, with Nigel Mansell running strongly before retiring with electrical problems. The Englishman's pace suggested that Williams would emerge as McLaren's primary challenger as the season progressed, though few could have predicted just how dominant Senna and McLaren would become over the coming months.