The second leg of the North American double-header brings us to Indianapolis for the United States Grand Prix - a race that, down the years, has proven to be the most nomadic, statistically complicated and (recently) controversial on the F1 calendar.
This race has been held in no fewer than nine different locations - Sebring (1959), Riverside (1960), Watkins Glen (1961-80), Long Beach (1976-83), Las Vegas (1981-82), Detroit (1982-88), Dallas (1984), Phoenix (1989-91) and, since 2000, at its present location, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the circuit to host IRL, F1 and NASCAR events.
The United States Grand Prix should not be confused with the Indianapolis 500, which, although not an F1 race, counted toward the Formula One World Championship between 1950 and 1960. For this reason, you will often see variations in Grand Prix statistical books (for instance, some count Ferrari's involvement in the 1952 Indy 500 as a GP start, whereas others do not).
1959 United States Grand Prix at Sebring © LAT |
The only time the circus visited Sebring was also the 1959 championship finale. Jack Brabham sealed his first world title that day after Stirling Moss's early race retirement, but it is an event most remembered for two other occurrences - Brabham's Cooper-Climax grinding to a halt on the final lap, forcing the Australian to push it over the line, and Brabham's demise leaving Bruce McLaren as the youngest F1 race winner at that time.