One of those pointless little movie links: for Grand Prix, John Frankenheimer pretty much invented how to film a car chase. I think it was the first film to feature camera shots at a road level? Anyway the method was used possibly to its most famous effect in The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin. John Frankenheimer directed the sequel and was going to direct the prequel to Friedkin's Exorcist when he died.
Marvellous director. He also did The Manchurian Candidate and Ronin (another class car chase or two there).