Emerson Fittipaldi won his first Formula One race, becoming the first Brazilian driver to win a Grand Prix, while sealing Jochen Rindt's posthumous world championship.
Key Facts
- Race laps
- 108 laps
- Winner
- Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus-Ford)
- Fittipaldi's Grand Prix starts
- 4th start
- Race round
- 12 of 13 in 1970 season
- Circuit configuration
- Final race in original fast layout
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1970 Formula One season reached its penultimate round at Watkins Glen, with the championship already mathematically decided in favour of Jochen Rindt, who had died in a qualifying crash at Monza weeks earlier. Jacky Ickx, the only driver who could have overtaken Rindt's points tally, needed to win but suffered a broken fuel line early in the race.
On October 4, 1970, Emerson Fittipaldi started from third on the grid and drove a Lotus-Ford to victory over 108 laps at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course. Pedro Rodríguez finished second in a BRM after a late fuel stop, and Reine Wisell, making his Formula One debut, completed the podium in third for Lotus.
Fittipaldi's victory marked the first Formula One win for a Brazilian driver and confirmed Jochen Rindt as the first and only posthumous Formula One World Champion. The race was also the last to be held on Watkins Glen's original fast circuit layout, as a new, longer configuration was introduced for the 1971 season.
Result
at Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course, Watkins Glen, New York