1971 Questor Grand Prix
The Questor Grand Prix was a non-championship race for Formula One and Formula 5000 cars held on 28 March 1971 to inaugurate a new racing facility in California, the Ontario Motor Speedway, built by the Questor conglomerate.
| 1971 Questor Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-championship race in the 1971 Formula One season | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | March 28, 1971 | ||
| Official name | Questor Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Ontario Motor Speedway, California, United States | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.141 km (3.194 miles) | ||
| Distance | 64 laps, 329.02 km (204.42 miles) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Tyrrell-Cosworth | ||
| Time | 1:41.257 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Pedro Rodriguez | BRM | |
| Time | 1:42.777 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First |
| Ferrari | |
| Second | Tyrrell-Cosworth | ||
| Third | McLaren-Cosworth | ||
Because of the smaller fuel tanks of the F5000 cars, the race was run in two heats of 32 laps, and the final result decided by a points system. Jackie Stewart qualified on pole for Heat 1 and finished runner-up behind Mario Andretti. Chris Amon set fastest lap. Andretti and Stewart again finished first and second in Heat 2 and Pedro Rodriguez set fastest lap, quicker than Amon's time in Heat 1. Mario Andretti was declared the winner; with Stewart in second place and Denny Hulme third. Mark Donohue was the best-placed F5000 finisher in Heat 1, and Ron Grable best in Heat 2. Grable was also the best-placed F5000 driver on aggregate.
Hopes for a regular fixture rapidly faded due to financial problems; the Questor Grand Prix remained a one-off event and the Ontario Motor Speedway was never again host to Formula One cars.