Jim Clark and Team Lotus had scored maximum points, and therefore won the Championship, back in August at the German Grand Prix, and it was the Scot who stole the show in qualifying, taking pole in the last moments from Dan Gurney. Ginther put the #11 Honda on the second row, starting third, although their efforts were all slightly overshadowed by an incident at Reg Parnell Racing, where Innes Ireland was fired after the session and his seat handed to Bob Bondurant.