François Cevert died at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York on October 6, 1973. During his Formula One career, he had only won one race: the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1971. In the endurance racing world, he finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971.
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Cevert died during the last moments of qualifying in 1973. Despite having set a comfortable time, he thought he could better it. He ran several laps to warm up the car. Then, he set out on his flying lap.
During the time, the Esses were a difficult corner. Team leader Jackie Stewart and Cevert disagreed about how to take it. The Tyrrell that year could be jumpy, so Stewart preferred to take the Esses in fourth gear at the low end of the engine’s rev range. It was calmer that way, easier to control. Cevert, though, preferred third gear, at the top end of the engine’s rev range. It was quicker in some ways, but it required a gear change partway through the corner, and it was jumpie