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Rindt, finally!

26. May 2023 
by Ziv Knoll
4139 views

The 1969 United States Grand Prix was held at Watkins Glen on October 5. It was race 10 of 11 in the 1969 Formula One World Championship. Jochen Rindt (Lotus 49) took the first win of his F1 career from pole position.

Picture above: Rindt on pole (left), is joined on the front row by Stewart (Matra) and Hill (Lotus). Fun fact: Stewart was mistakenly put on Hulme’s place on the grid, who had qualified second in his McLaren!

I particularly like this picture here-above, because you can instantly recognise the beautiful colours of the upcoming autumn at the Glen in October.

Jackie Stewart (Matra-Ford) won five of the first six races in 1969, and his first Drivers’ Championship was already in the pocket when the teams came to North America for the final three races.

Jochen Rindt, on the other hand, had come close to his first Grand Prix victory throughout the season, his first with Lotus, but without success. He had started from pole four times, led in five of the nine races, and taken back-to-back podiums in the two preceding races in Italy and Canada.

Rindt (Lotus 49) crossed the line 46 seconds ahead of Courage (Brabham) with his long-awaiting and well-deserved first win. He declared: “It is just that the car held together for once, but this one makes up for all others I have lost.”

 

Source: UIG

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