By the time of the Watkins Glen event, the 1961 season had already marked an important US milestone in Formula One with Californian Phil Hill being crowned the first American World Champion.
No momento da carreira de Watkins Glen, a tempada 1961 xa marcara un fito importante na Fórmula Un nos EE.UU. co californiano Phil Hill coroado como o primeiro Campión Mundial estadounidense.