I didn't know that about the magnesium block! Amazing! Yes, you're right about the attrition rate at Texas. They used part of the high speed Texas speedway, which would have added more strain to some already tired race cars. 24 cars started, 12 finished, including only one McLaren team car, which definitely helped Brabham. He was actually running second late in the race but was slowed by an oil leak and slipped to third.