1982 United States Grand Prix West
The Grand Prix of USA West 1982 took place on 4 April in Long Beach and was the third race of the Formula 1 season 1982.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
During the two weeks that lay between the Grand Prix of Brazil and the third World Cup race of the year in Long Beach, Carlos Reutemann decided to end his Formula 1 career. As a replacement then Mario Andretti jumped as the second driver alongside Keke Rosberg in a Williams. The remaining participants remained unchanged.
By making small changes to the route of a round in Long Beach at 200 meters was longer than in previous years. The lap was therefore reduced by five to 75 rounds.
Training
Surprisingly, Andrea de Cesaris secured the first and only pole position of his Grand Prix career. For Alfa Romeo, it was the twelfth and final total. Behind Niki Lauda, who qualified for the second place, followed by the two Renault teammate René Arnoux and Alain Prost. Bruno Giacomelli and the reigning world champion Nelson Piquet formed the third row.
Race
At the start, de Cesaris was initially able to defend his position. Arnoux could take second place ahead of this front and Bruno Giacomelli and Gilles Villeneuve by an overtaking maneuver against Lauda.
As Giacomelli in the sixth round was trying to overtake Lauda, he collided with Arnoux, thereby excreting both pilots and Lauda was able to resume the pursuit of de Cesaris. In the 15th round he took the lead and gave rapidly a head start. John Watson had fought meanwhile to Prost, Piquet, Rosberg and Villeneuve passing up to third place forward.
Piquet and de Cesaris were due to driving errors and resulting collisions with the walls of the track seaming. Villeneuve made while trying to overtake Rosberg, also an error, but was able to continue the race because he could drive in a run-off area his car in time. A pit stop Watsons prevented a McLaren one-two. Lauda managed their first win after his comeback in the third race. It was his total of 18 Grand Prix success. Rosberg took second place ahead of Villeneuve.
Shortly after the race, Villeneuve was disqualified because the used of him double rear wing was classified as non-compliant. This Riccardo Patrese came in third place ahead of Michele Alboreto, Elio de Angelis and John Watson.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).