On 5th October 1975, Niki Lauda won the USA Grand Prix. A triumphant season for Scuderia Ferrari came to an end at Watkins Glen, after it had already claimed the Drivers’ and Constructors’ crowns for Maranello almost a month earlier in Monza, after an eleven year wait. The win for the new world champion in the USA put the seal on a season that had seen Ferrari take six victories, one with Regazzoni and five with Lauda, nine poles, all for the Austrian, six fastest race laps, at a score of 4-2 in favour of the Swiss driver and eleven podiums, which went 8-3 to Niki.
At Watkins Glen, Lauda started once again from pole and this time, he had Fittipaldi in the McLaren alongside him. The outcome was pretty much decided at the first corner when the Ferrari man managed to get the better of the Brazilian. The Austrian kept the lead throughout, taking the chequered flag almost five seconds ahead of Fittipaldi.
The other Ferrari also had a part to play in this Grand Prix, even if it didn’t make it to the finish. Regazzoni had to spend a long time in the pits after he damaged the nose, as he attempted to pass Mass and found himself up with the leaders Niki Lauda and Fittipaldi as they were preparing to pass him. Of course, Clay let his team-mate through, but he made life a little bit more difficult for the McLaren driver, to the extent that he was black flagged. Ferrari’s Sporting Director, Montezemolo had an animated debate with the Race Director and in the end had to call Regazzoni in.
It was Ferrari’s first win in a Formula 1 race in the United States, the country which has become by far the biggest market for Prancing Horse road cars.
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