The 1961 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 8, 1961, at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. In its third year of searching the United States Grand Prix finally found a home, thanks to Cameron Argetsinger, and truly established Formula One racing in the United States. The season-ending race also provided the first victory for one of the sport's greatest teams – Colin Chapman's Team Lotus – and gave an extremely popular driver, Innes Ireland, his only career Grand Prix win. Ireland started eighth, took the lead when the engine in Stirling Moss' Lotus failed, and finished 4.3 seconds ahead of American Dan Gurney.