Another new driver, the Australian Tim Schenken, replaced van Lennep for the Canadian Grand Prix. The race began in very wet conditions, which caused a number of incidents later in the race, and for the first time in Formula One history a safety car was deployed, although the sport would wait until 1993 before giving an official role to these cars. The car in question was a Porsche 914 driven by former Formula One privateer Eppie Wietzes. Wietzes failed to pick up the leader, staying in front of Ganley by mistake, which allowed several drivers including eventual winner Peter Revson to gain a lap on the field. In the subsequent confusion, some believed the leader to be Ganley, and others including Team Lotus manager Colin Chapman were sure it was Emerson Fittipaldi. The race order was in chaos, but when the safety car withdrew, Ganley's IR was leading the race. "As they thought I was in front I decided perhaps I'd better try and stay there," said Ganley afterwards, and he led Fittipaldi and Jackie Stewart for eight laps. After both had passed him, Ganley continued to battle with Stewart, Mike Hailwood, Revson and James Hunt until the end of the race. Fittipaldi crossed the line but the chequered flag was not waved; instead it was waved at Revson, with Ganley sixth, earning his first and the team's second World Championship point of the season. Schenken finished 14th, five laps down. Lap charts differed, but some (including the team's chart, kept by Ganley's girlfriend) suggested that Ganley had won the race. "I believed I should have finished either first or third," he later said.