1961 United States Grand Prix

1961 United States Grand Prix
Race details
Date	October 8, 1961
Official name	IV Grand Prix of the United States
Location	Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course Watkins Glen, New York
Course	Permanent road course
Course length	3.78 km (2.35 miles)
Distance	100 laps, 378 km (235 miles)
Weather	Temperatures up to 22 °C (72 °F); Wind speeds up to 16.48 km/h (10.24 mph)[1]
Pole position
Driver	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Climax
Time	1:17.0
Fastest lap
Driver	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Climax
Time	1:18.2 on lap 28
Podium
First	Innes Ireland	Lotus-Climax
Second	Dan Gurney	Porsche
Third	Tony Brooks	BRM-Climax
Lap leaders

The 1961 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 8, 1961, at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. It was the eighth and final race in both the 1961 World Championship of Drivers and the 1961 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The United States Grand Prix had been held at two different circuits in its previous three runnings, but subsequently remained at Watkins Glen until 1980. The season-ending race was won by British driver Innes Ireland, his only career Grand Prix win. He started eighth, took the lead when the engine in Stirling Moss' Lotus failed, and finished 4.3 seconds ahead of American Dan Gurney. The win was the first victory for Colin Chapman's Team Lotus.