1976 United States Grand Prix West
The Grand Prix of USA West 1976 took place on 28 March in Long Beach and was the third race of the Formula 1 season 1976.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
That's not counting the World Cup Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, which was held after the Grand Prix of South Africa at the weekend, James Hunt had decided for themselves. Immediately after that, the vehicles were transported to California, where two weeks later for the first time should take place a Formula 1 race with world championship status on the street circuit of Long Beach. As well as the traditional U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen continued to focus on the racing calendar, was henceforth made between the U.S. Grand Prix East and the U.S. Grand Prix West, the latter was officially named the " Grand Prix of Long Beach".
Alan Jones, who had reached the second place at Brands Hatch for the team Surtees, was henceforth used in World Championship races as a second factory rider next to Brett Lunger. March began a fourth Trailer for Arturo Merzario, who brought the financial support of its own main sponsor. The two factory cars of Hans -Joachim Stuck and Ronnie Peterson went into the colors of their new sponsor at the start, as well as the Ensign of Chris Amon and the Parnelli of Mario Andretti. The Team Shadow had, however, do without the support of a short term at the contracted South African GP sponsor and therefore approached in a neutral black finish.
Training
The training was characterized by several mostly harmless divots in the concrete walls, the distance limited. In addition, there were several technical defects in the chassis, which were caused by the unevenness of the road surface.
The season so far in the current points loose Clay Regazzoni showed the best performance in training and thus secured the pole position ahead of Patrick Depailler, James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Tom Pryce and Ronnie Peterson formed the third row in front of Jean -Pierre and Vittorio Brambilla Jarier.
Since only 20 vehicles were registered for the race, failed seven riders in the qualifying hurdle, including well-known drivers such as Jacky Ickx and Arturo Merzario.
Race
While Regazzoni took over from the pole position from the guide before Depailler and Hunt and she could hold consistently to the finish, Carlos Reutemann and Vittorio Brambilla collided at the first corner and dropped out. This, as well as by a suspension failure on Gunnar Nilsson's Lotus 77, the participants reduced already in the first round on 17 vehicles.
In the third round, Hunt and Depailler collided. Only the Frenchman was able to continue the race then. Lauda came by to second place. A little later Depailler fell for a spin back up to seventh place. Over the next few laps but he fought his way back up to third place forward, but this was also favored by the technically -related losses of Tom Pryce and Jody Scheckter.
A strong impression was made by Jacques Laffite, who took fourth place in round 47 and those defended by the end of the race against Jean -Pierre Jarier and Jochen Mass. This meant the first points result for the Ligier factory team. Similarly, Emerson Fittipaldi was able to achieve with sixth the first counter for the Copersucar team, which he ran with his brother Wilson.
Message list
Classifications
Line-up
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).