Austin's biggest and perhaps most improbable - certainly its loudest - sporting event ended Sunday with the hoisting of the United States Grand Prix trophy and with a traditional spray of Mumm Champagne.
Winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain, runner-up Sebastian Vettel of Germany and third-place finisher Fernando Alonso of Spain wore black cowboy hats to the awards podium to celebrate their success and the conclusion of the first Formula One race in Austin.
For Hamilton, it was the fourth victory this year, won on a premium fall afternoon at Circuit of the Americas before a crowd reported as 117,429 fans.
Hamilton, who had been aggressive in qualifying rounds Saturday, stalked Vettel, who had started on the pole, through the first three-quarters of the race. Then, in the long straight stretch on the north side of the circuit, Vettel got briefly caught up in traffic.
Hamilton, who drives for McLaren, powered in behind Vettel, cutting the gap to about a half-second, then slipped past Vettel in Turn 12.
"He had one chance, and he took it," said Vettel, who drives for Red Bull.
Vettel, who is the Formula One driving leader, shadowed Hamilton through the remainder of the race but could not catch him.
Hamilton was literally jumping up and down with joy after winning in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 55.269 seconds, less than one second faster than Vettel.
"That was my best win, guys," he yelled to his pit crew. "That was wicked."
Vettel's finish clinched for Red Bull the constructors' - or team - championship, even though Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, retired from the race in the 17th lap with a faulty alternator.
Austin American-Statesman
