United States Grand Prix - - -Despite spells when it appeared to have found its natural "home", the United States Grand Prix has had a chequered history. To date, it has taken place at six different venues, not including the USA GRAND PRIX WEST, staged at LONG BEACH, California, between 1976 and 1983. The first United States Grand Prix was run in 1959, at SEBRING, in Florida. In 1960, the race moved across country to RIVERSIDE, California, before settling in upstate New York, at WATKINS GLEN, near Syracuse, from 1961-80. There followed two largely unsuccessful attempts at running the race in LAS VEGAS (1981-82) before it was moved to DETROIT and given the title USA GRAND PRIX EAST (1983-1988). There was also a one-off US Grand Prix run in the stifling heat of DALLAS, Texas, in 1984. The final site of the United States Grand Prix in recent times was PHOENIX, Arizona between 1989-91. The Dallas and Phoenix races were both run on temporary, downtown street circuits. The most successful drivers have been AYRTON SENNA, who won four races (1987-88 and 1990-91), GRAHAM HILL (1963-65) and JIM CLARK (1962 and 1966-67), who won three apiece. The United States Grand Prix is scheduled to return to the Formula One calendar in 2000, at a new home, based on a purpose-built road circuit within the grounds of the famed INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
Understeer - - -The situation that results when a car has more grip at the rear than the front. Depending on the severity of the understeer, the car can either run slightly wide when cornering or, in extremis, go off the road, nose-first. This sort of handling imbalance usually extracts a heavy toll in front tyre wear.
USA-Dallas - - -A one-off Grand Prix that took place in the Texas metropolis in 1984, it was run on a 3.9-km street circuit and won by Keke Rosberg (Williams).
USA-Detroit - - -Six Grands Prix, dubbed the UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX EAST, run in the downtown core of "Motor City" from 1983-88 inclusive. These races took place on the same 4.023-km temporary street circuit.
USA-Las Vegas - - -Two Grands Prix run on a 3.64-km temporary course in the Nevada city in 1981-82, they were won by Alan Jones (Williams) and Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell) respectively.
USA-West - - -Eight events held on a temporary street circuit in LONG BEACH, California, just south of Los Angeles, from 1976-83 inclusive.
U.S. Grand Prix - - -See UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX.