 Complete the following phrase:  Jackie Stewart later described Rindts 1969 season as the year that he came of age. At the end of the year, Motor Sport magazine called him the only driver to challenge Stewart seriously throughout the season, albeit placing only fourth in the championship. The poor reliability of the Lotus 49B affected him; he retired from seven races. At the , Rindt fought a close battle with Stewart for the lead; both men were 90 seconds ahead of third-placed Jacky Ickx. The race was decided in Stewarts favour only when Rindt had to enter the pits after part of his cars bodywork started to rub on the tyre; he finished fourth. At the , he was involved in a memorable finish. Having started from pole position, he traded the lead with Stewart and Piers Courage several times. During the last lap, Rindt, Stewart, McLaren, and Jean-Pierre Beltoise were running close together as they approached the finish line. Stewart took the win, only eight hundredths of a second ahead of Rindt, while fourth placed McLaren was also within two tenths of a second. It was the closest 1234 finish in the history of the sport. Rindt recorded his maiden Grand Prix win at the penultimate race of the season 