Hill won the toss, but…

Graham Hill and Jim Clark cresting the top of the hill (picture above) leading to the long straightaway, at the US Grand Prix held at Watkins Glen in 1967. How gorgeous those cars and that view, spectacular!

The two Lotus drivers, confident in the superiority of their equipment, and at the behest of Walter Hayes of Ford USA, tossed a coin in the motel the night before to agree who would win, if they were running one-two at the front. The drivers agreed when was decided that the arrangement could be reversed in the following race in Mexico, and Graham won the toss.

But then, as often with Lotus, reliability was not perfect: Hill encountered mechanical issues (clutch) and Jim took the lead. Then halfway through lap 106, with a 45 seconds lead, a support broke on the top of Clark’s right rear suspension. The Scot (picture below) began nursing the car toward the finish, and crossed the line, just six seconds ahead of Hill. A prestigious 1-2 for Lotus, but not exactly in the agreed order.