Sebastian Vettel dominated from the start to win the US Grand Prix and set a record of eight consecutive victories in a season.
The already-crowned four time Formula One world champion bettered German compatriot Michael Schumacher's tally from 2004.
It was the 12th win of the season in 18 races for the Red Bull driver, who finished just over six seconds ahead of Romain Grosjean in a Lotus.
“Speechless, we have to remember these days,” Vettel said over the team radio. “There's no guarantee they will last. I love this team. Incredible, I love you guys.”
Vettel can now match Schumacher's record 13 wins from 2004 at the last race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend.
“The car was fantastic,” Vettel said. “It was a bit tight at the start, Romain had a good start and I didn't know if it would be enough. We had good pace though and could control the gaps for eight wins in a row.
“My debut was in 2007 in Indianapolis so to come back last year, podium (second place) and win today, it's fantastic.”
LONELY AT THE FRONT
Vettel led from his eighth pole position of the season and was again untroubled at the front at the Circuit of the Americas.
Grosjean held off a late challenge from Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, while Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was fourth ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who made sure of second place in the drivers' standings.
The remaining top 10 places were taken by Sauber's Nico Huelkenberg, McLaren's Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas in a Williams, Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes and McLaren's Jenson Button.
It was a race of little incident at the front to excite the Texas fans, although the safety car was out on the first lap after German Adrian Sutil in a Force India hit the barriers after making contact with the Williams of Pastor Maldonado.
Grosjean's second place was his best finish of the season after five previous podium places.
“It was a good race, a good start and I got past Mark and almost caught Seb,” Grosjean said.
“The car worked well today, I'm very proud to represent Lotus. Everyone did a 100 per cent job and I'm glad to be on the podium here in the United States - I like this country and I always look forward to this beautiful track. Maybe next year I will go one better.”
In the drivers' standings, Vettel has 372 points, with Alonso on 227, Hamilton moving third on 187, Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus on 183 and Webber on 181.
With Raikkonen now out injured, Webber will be seeking in his last F1 race next weekend to get past Hamilton to finish third in the championship.
“It was not easy to pass Romain who was very clean but a good job for the whole team and I'm happy to finish on the podium on what will be my last F1 race here in America,” Webber said.
The race for second place behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship will go to the last grand prix. Red Bull have amassed 553 points, with Mercedes second on 348 ahead of Ferrari (333) and Lotus (315). -Sapa-dpa
AUSTIN GP RESULTS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull-Renault - 1:39:17.148
2. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus-Renault - +00:06.284
3. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull-Renault - 00:08.396
4. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes - 00:27.358
5. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari - 00:29.592
6. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber-Ferrari - 00:30.400
7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren - 00:46.692
8. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Renault - 00:54.509
9. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes - 00:59.141
10. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren - 01:17.278
11. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso-Ferrari - 01:21.004
12. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari - 01:26.914
13. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber-Ferrari - 01:31.707
14. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Lotus-Renault - 01:35.063
15. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India-Mercedes - 01:36.853
16. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso-Ferrari - 01:44.574
17. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams-Renault - 1 lap
18. Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia-Cosworth - 1 lap
19. Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham-Renault - 1 lap
20. Charles Pic (France) Caterham-Renault - 1 lap
21. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia-Cosworth - 2 laps
r. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India-Mercedes - 56 laps
(rank: r = retired, nc = not classified)
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel,1:39.856, lap 54.
DRIVER STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull - 372
2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari - 227
3. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes - 187
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - 183
5. Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull - 181
6. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes - 161
7. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - 132
8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari - 106
9. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren - 61
10. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - 48
11. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber - 47
12. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren - 41
13. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - 29
14. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - 19
15. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - 13
16. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - 6
17. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams - 4
18. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - 1
19. Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - 0
20. Charles Pic (France) Caterham - 0
21. Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham - 0
22. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - 0
23. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Lotus - 0
CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
1. RedBull-Renault - 553
2. Mercedes - 348
3. Ferrari - 333
4. Lotus-Renault - 315
5. McLaren - 102
6. Force India-Mercedes - 77
7. Sauber-Ferrari - 53
8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari - 32
9. Williams-Renault - 5
10. Marussia-Cosworth - 0
11. Caterham-Renault - 0