Mario Andretti joined the Ferrari team in 1971. His first Grand Prix start of that season was at the March 6th South African Grand Prix, run on the well known Kyalami circuit. Andretti qualified fourth on the grid and ran in the top six for the first half of the race. As the race was winding down, Andretti began to make his move on the leading McLaren of Denis Hulme.
With 20 laps left to go, Andretti was just four seconds behind the race leading Hulme. With four laps to go, Andretti had closed to one second behind Hulme. It was during these last four laps that suspension problems hit Hulmes car and Andretti grabbed the lead. When the checkered flag came out, Mario Andretti had won his first of many Grands Prix victories.
