1981 United States Grand Prix West
The Grand Prix of USA West 1981 was held on 15 March in Long Beach and was the first World Cup race of the Formula 1 season 1981.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
The dispute between FISA and FOCA, which had already led to the Grand Prix of Spain was in 1980 not recognized as a World Championship race, had worsened in the winter 1980/81 such that the planned for February 7 Large Price of South Africa also had to be discharged as not for the World Cup scoring formula 1 race. Carlos Reutemann won the race to which the FISA related teams did not attend. The official start of the 1981 season thus took place in Long Beach until March 15.
Only the teams Williams and Brabham started with the same driver line-up in the new year with which they had ended the 1980 season. However, many other teams kept at each one of the pilots of the previous year. McLaren kept example firm to John Watson and Andrea de Cesaris committed as a new second team driver. This was necessary since Alain Prost was changed in spite of a valid two-year contract prematurely Renault, where he replaced Jean -Pierre Jabouille and thus new teammate René Arnoux was. Jabouille was meanwhile as new team-mate Jacques Laffite of Ligier at under contract. Since he was, however, still not recovered from his leg injuries he had sustained in an accident during the Canadian Grand Prix in 1980, initially took over Jean -Pierre Jarier his representative. Meanwhile, place, and that of his former teammate Derek Daly in the financially troubled team Tyrrell received the two American Eddie Cheever and Kevin Cogan. Daly found a new position with the team March, which returned to F1 after three years of interruption. The Chilean Eliseo Salazar debutant was his teammate there.
With Ferrari Renault stepped up next to another team with turbo engines. Jody Scheckter, who had ended his career at the season finale in 1980, was replaced by Didier Pironi. This formed henceforth together with Gilles Villeneuve, a legendary driver pairing.
Mario Andretti moved to Alfa Romeo, where he was second team driver Bruno Giacomelli next. Then got Nigel Mansell, who had graduated from three visiting missions in the previous year, a regular driver contract with Lotus on the side of Elio de Angelis.
Emerson Fittipaldi was next to Jody Scheckter, the second former world champion who finished his career as a Formula 1 driver after the 1980 season. He stopped Keke Rosberg fixed as a driver for his team and also took the novice Chico Serra under contract. Osella entered from then on for the first time as a two - car team. Beppe Gabbiani and the Argentine debutant Miguel Ángel Guerra were committed as a driver. Arrows Riccardo Patrese retained and hired the debutants Siegfried Stohr in place of Jochen Mass. Marc Surer and Jan Lammers exchanged places between the teams ATS and Ensign.
Theodore Racing first came to work as a team with their own car. This was known as the TY01 and was piloted by Patrick Tambay. The other teams were a predominantly evolved last year's models.
Since the tire manufacturer Goodyear had decided his temporary withdrawal from the Grand Prix racing, all entered teams with Michelin tires.
Training
To the surprise of the scientific community has Patrese pole position secured in A3B Arrows ahead of the two Williams drivers Jones and Reutemann. Piquet followed before Villeneuve and Andretti. Almost all pilots managed their respective fastest lap during the second qualifying session. The only exception was Siegfried Stohr, who did not participate in it.
Race
After a very good start as the leader Villeneuve reached the first curve, under braking, however, and had the top spot by dispose to Patrese. The two Williams drivers also came back to the positions from which they were started. Further back in the field collided Prost and de Cesaris. Both dropped out. Pironi, who had started from eleventh place on the grid, was at the end of the first lap in sixth place behind Piquet. Three laps later he finished fourth.
In the 17th round of Villeneuve, who had dropped back to sixth place different from a result of damage to the drive train. His position was occupied then by Cheever.
Due to problems with the fuel pressure Patrese lost in first round 25, the leadership of Reutemann and one lap later took second place on Jones. In the 17th round of an inevitable pit stop at the end of the field threw him back.
In the 32th round Reutemann made a mistake in the course of a lapping maneuver against Surer. This took advantage of his teammate Jones to take the lead. Meanwhile overtook Laffite the sixth-placed Andretti and collided ten laps later, with the five runners Cheever. The Frenchman had to make a repair stop at the pits and also Cheevers car slowed due to slight damage. This and the fact that Pironi due to an oil leak was slower Andretti use of to go to fourth place.
The season began with a double victory of the reigning world champion team Williams.
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).