1973 Canadian Grand Prix
The 1973 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada, officially known as the XIII Labatt's Canadian Grand Prix, was held on September 23, 1973, at the Mosport Park circuit in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It was the ninth round of the 1973 Formula One World Championship.
The Mosport Park circuit is a 3.96-kilometer (2.46-mile) track known for its fast and challenging nature, featuring high-speed corners and elevation changes.
Ronnie Peterson (Lotus)- Pole, Peter Revson (McLaren), Jody Scheckter (McLaren)
The 1973 Canadian Grand Prix started with heavy rain, creating challenging conditions that resulted in various incidents later in the race. On the 32nd lap, François Cevert and Jody Scheckter collided. To manage the situation, a pace car (a yellow Porsche 914) was introduced onto the track, marking the first time in Grand Prix history that a pace car was used. However, there was confusion as the pace car led the wrong car, granting certain cars an advantage regarding track position. As the race resumed, nobody was sure about the correct leader.
F1’s first use of a Safety Car —Yellow Porsche 914
Amidst the confusion, three drivers, Peter Revson, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Jackie Oliver, believed they had secured the race win while the officials still determined the rightful winner. After extensive analysis of the drivers' lap charts and comparing them with the teams' data, a detailed four-hour period of revisions ensued. Eventually, Peter Revson was officially declared the winner, with Fittipaldi and Oliver securing second and third positions.
Peter Revson (McLaren) Winner
In third place in the Shadow DN1 was Jackie Oliver of England, driving for the American-based UOP Shadow Racing team, receiving the team's second, third-place podium of the season; the other was by American George Follmer at the Spanish Grand Prix. Shadow Racing raced two seasons under the American flag and was founded by American Veteran Don Nichols.
Shadow DN1 - Jackie Oliver - 3rd place
The 1973 Canadian Grand Prix incident highlighted the need for more precise regulations and guidelines regarding using safety cars in Formula 1. In the following years, the sport worked towards establishing standard procedures to assure fairness and safety during safety car deployments.
