The lives of four drivers during a season of the Grand Prix racing circuit: Pete Aaron (James Garner) is a driver who gets thrown off a racing team for causing a catastrophic crash with another team member, but who gets a second chance at driving thanks to a Japanese industrialist. Scott Stoddard (Brian Bedford) is the driver who is nearly crippled in the crash, and must fight his way back to the top despite fighting both pain and separation from his wife Pat (Jessica Walter). Jean-Pierre Sarti (Yves Montand) is a top driver who has an affair with journalist Louise Frederickson (Eva Marie Saint) to escape both a loveless marriage and his disenchantment with racing in general. Nino Barlini (Antonio Sabato) is an up-and-coming driver whose love affair with Lisa (Françoise Hardy) is just another trophy for his shelf.