It was the year for the new term called subcompact cars, featuring the Ford Pinto, the AMC Gremlin and the Chevrolet Vega. The Vega won Motor Trend's car of the year mostly on the popularity of the hatchback and the fold down rear seat. The technology advance was the 140 cubic inch inline-4 aluminum block. More about the Chevrolet Vega
The Races of 1971
Indianapolis 500 - Al Unser, Sr
Indy Pace Car Crash
USAC Racing - Joe Leonard
Richard Petty won the Daytona 500
NASCAR Championship - Richard Petty
Formula One Championship - Jackie Stewart of Great Britain
24 hours of Le Mans: the team of Helmut Marko / Gijs van Lennep won, driving a Porsche 917
Rally racing - the team of Ove Andersson / David Stone won the Monte Carlo Rally driving an Alpine-Renault A110
Hank Johnson won Top Fuel at the NHRA Supernationals.
Drag racing: The NHRA announces the first "Grandnational" in Canada at Sanair International Drag Strip, near Montreal, Quebec.
