The popular Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson joined the John Player Lotus team in 1973 and proved his worth by winning four Grands Prix races. Peterson's victories occurred at France, Austria, Italy and the United States.
 
All of Peterson's 1973 wins in were in chassis number Lotus 72E/6. At Monza, on a very hot September day, Ronnie Peterson started from the pole position. When the green flag fell, he and his team mate Emerson Fittipaldi soon pulled away from the field and circulated the Monza circuit lap after lap in order. By the end of the race, everyone was expecting Peterson to let Fittipaldi through since he still had a slim chance at retaining his world championship. That was not to be, however, and Peterson took a mere 0.8 second victory over his team mate. This was the first Lotus one-two finish since the 1968 South African Grand Prix.