While team-mate Stewart encountered tyre troubles, young François Cévert held up the Tyrrell name by winning the United States Grand Prix in a new configuration of the Watkins Glen road circuit.
Cevert didn't have it all easy, however. Team-mate Stewart won the pole position, and new team-mate Peter Revson was out fr his first time in Formula One for seven years in Tyrrell 001. Emerson Fittipaldi started his Lotus 72 second, alongside Stewart and Denny Hulme's McLaren. Row two was composed of Clay Regazzoni's Ferrari and Cevert's Tyrrell 002.
It was looking to be a Tyrrell day again as Stewart led away in 003, Fittipaldi having a terrible start. Cevert managed to jump up to third behind Hulme, who he dispatched shortly, and it was Tyrrell 1-2 all over again.
Unfortunately, Stewart began having serious tyre troubles, so Cevert pushed ahead for the lead on lap fourteen. Stewart battled valiantly to protect his team-mate, but eventually faded to fifth place. Ickx, in the other Ferrari, hounded Cevert until he had troubles of his own. Indeed, it simply seemed to be Cevert's day, as his competition dropped off, one by one. Sadly, Revson, in the third Tyrrell, faded as well when his clutch went on the starting line, rendering Tyrrell 001 DNF.
Jo Siffert's BRM P160 and Ronnie Peterson's March 711 followed Cevert accross the line to the podium, with Stewart finishing a disappointed fifth. This was Cevert's first Grand Prix victory, and will certainly not be his last. The young Frenchman showed a fine form, and will certainly be on well when Stewart has troubles. It may not be long before Cevert wins a race from his mentor!
Of course, this is an important victory for "Uncle Ken", as it comes with a $50,000 purse! Now, the circus is off to Mexico for the final round of the Grand Prix circuit!
