Results from the 1981 Formula One United States Grand Prix West held at Long Beach on March 15, 1981. This article recaps the 1981 Formula One season. ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The United States Grand Prix West was a race held at Long Beach, California, as a Formula 5000 race in 1975 and a Formula One championship event from 1976 to 1983. ... County Los Angeles County, California Area  - Total  - Water 170. ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Summary

Just 10 days prior to this Grand Prix the Concorde Agreement was formally finalized in Paris. This allowed all of the teams to appear at this race and the 1981 season fully underway with a temporary lull in the FISA-FOCA war.

The session was not without controversy. Lotus appeared with their new Lotus 88, a car featuring two chassis designed by Colin Chapman and Martin Ogilvie. It passed scrutineering and was allowed to take part in day one practice. At the end of the day, after protests by almost every other team, the race stewards banned the car from the race weekend and Lotus had to race a more conventional design.

The race was typical of a tight street circuit. Only eight cars finished and 10 of the retirements could be attributed to collisions. Riccardo Patrese led from pole and pulled well ahead of the two Williams cars. Patrese lost the lead to Carlos Reutemann on lap 24 with a blocked fuel filter. The two Williams cars had a sizeable lead over third place Nelson Piquet but any questions about team orders letting the number one driver through were soon answered. On lap 32, just after lapping a car, Reutemann took a turn wide, locked the brakes, and bounced over a curb. Alan Jones dove past and maintained a comfortable lead until the finish.

Classification

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	1	Alan Jones	Williams-Ford	80	1:50'41.33	2	9
2	2	Carlos Reutemann	Williams-Ford	80	+9.19	3	6
3	5	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford	80	+34.92	4	4
4	22	Mario Andretti	Alfa Romeo	80	+49.31	6	3
5	3	Eddie Cheever	Tyrrell-Ford	80	+ 1'06.70	8	2
6	33	Patrick Tambay	Theodore-Ford	79	+ 1 Lap	17	1
7	21	Chico Serra	Fittipaldi-Ford	78	+ 2 Laps	18
8	16	Rene Arnoux	Renault	77	+ 3 Laps	20
Ret	14	Marc Surer	Ensign-Ford	70	Fuel System	19
Ret	28	Didier Pironi	Ferrari	67	Fuel System	11
Ret	25	Jean Pierre Jarier	Ligier-Matra	64	Fuel Pump	10
Ret	6	Hector Rebaque	Brabham-Ford	49	Accident	15
Ret	23	Bruno Giacomelli	Alfa Romeo	41	Collision	9
Ret	26	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra	41	Collision	12
Ret	20	Keke Rosberg	Fittipaldi-Ford	41	Engine	16
Ret	9	Jan Lammers	ATS-Ford	41	Collision	21
Ret	29	Riccardo Patrese	Arrows-Ford	33	Fuel System	1
Ret	32	Beppe Gabbiani	Osella-Ford	26	Accident	24
Ret	12	Nigel Mansell	Lotus-Ford	25	Accident	7
Ret	27	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	17	Halfshaft	5
Ret	7	John Watson	McLaren-Ford	16	Brakes	23
Ret	11	Elio de Angelis	Lotus-Ford	13	Accident	13
Ret	15	Alain Prost	Renault	0	Collision	14
Ret	8	Andrea de Cesaris	McLaren-Ford	0	Collision	22
DNQ	4	Kevin Cogon	Tyrrell-Ford			0
DNQ	17	Derek Daly	March-Ford			0
DNQ	31	Miguel Angel Guerra	Osella-Ford			0
DNQ	30	Siegfried Stohr	Arrows-Ford			0
DNQ	18	Eliseo Salazar	March-Ford			0

Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... Alan Jones, b. ... WilliamsF1, formerly Williams Grand Prix Engineering, is a Formula 1 (F1) motor racing team formed and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Carlos Reutemann in 1980, near the end of his racing career Carlos Alberto Reutemann (b. ... WilliamsF1, formerly Williams Grand Prix Engineering, is a Formula 1 (F1) motor racing team formed and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Nelson Piquet Nelson Piquet Souto Maior (born August 17, 1952), more commonly known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian racing driver who was Formula One world champion in 1981, 1983, and 1987. ... The Brabham Racing Organisation was a Formula One racing team founded by Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Mario Andretti portrayed on the cover of Esquire Mario Gabriele Andretti (born February 28, 1940) is an American racing driver, arguably the most successful US citizen in auto racing. ... Alfa Romeo is an Italian automobile manufacturing company, founded as Darracq Italiana by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Eddie McKay Cheever, Jr. ... Tyrrell was an auto racing team and Formula One constructor founded by Ken Tyrrell. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Patrick Tambay (born 25 June 1949 in Paris) was a French Formula One driver. ... Theodore was a Formula One constructor from Britain. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Chico Serra was a Formula One driver from Brazil. ... Fittipaldi Automotive, often referred to as Copersucar after its major sponsor, was the only Formula One motor racing team and constructor ever to be based in Brazil. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Rene Arnoux (born July 4, 1948) was a French Formula One driver who participated during seasons 1978 to 1989. ... Renault Sport Technologies (commonly known as Renault Sport or RST) is the motorsport division of Renault. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Marc Surer was a Formula One driver from Switzerland. ... Ensign was a Formula One constructor from Britain. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Didier Pironi (March 26, 1952 - August 23, 1987) was a Formula One driver from France. ... Scuderia Ferrari is the common name for the Gestione Sportiva, the division of the Ferrari automobile company concerned with racing. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Jean Pierre Jarier (born July 10, 1946) is a French Grand Prix racing driver, now retired. ... Ligier is a French automobile maker created by former racing driver Guy Ligier. ... Mécanique Avion TRAction or Matra is a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to aeronautics and weaponry which today operates as the Lagardère Group. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Hector Rebaque was a Formula One driver from Mexico. ... The Brabham Racing Organisation was a Formula One racing team founded by Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Bruno Giacomelli was a Formula One driver from Italy. ... Alfa Romeo is an Italian automobile manufacturing company, founded as Darracq Italiana by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Jacques-Henri Laffite (born November 21, 1943) is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1986. ... Ligier is a French automobile maker created by former racing driver Guy Ligier. ... Mécanique Avion TRAction or Matra is a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to aeronautics and weaponry which today operates as the Lagardère Group. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Keke Rosberg (on the left) with Wolf Racing Crew at Monaco GP 1979 Keijo Erik Keke Rosberg (born December 6, 1948) was a popular Formula One driver in the early 1980s and, despite his birthplace Stockholm, Sweden, was the first regular driver from Finland in the series. ... Fittipaldi Automotive, often referred to as Copersucar after its major sponsor, was the only Formula One motor racing team and constructor ever to be based in Brazil. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Jan Lammers, born June 2th, 1956, is a former Formula One driver from the Netherlands. ... The ATS was an Italian automobile manufactured from 1963 to 1964, formed after the famous Palace Revolution at Ferrari, which led to the formation of ATS by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarini, among others - intending for it to be a direct competitor to Ferrari. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Riccardo Patrese (born April 17, 1954) in Padua, Italy was a Formula One racing driver from 1977 until 1993. ... Team Orange Arrows Formula One car at the 2000 United States Grand Prix The Arrows Racing Team team was founded in 1977, by Italian financier Franco Ambrosio (A), Alan Rees (R), Jackie Oliver (O), Dave Wass (W) and Tony Southgate (S) when Rees, Oliver, Wass and Southgate left the Shadow... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Beppe Gabbiani was a Formula One driver from Italy. ... Osella was an Italian motor racing company based in Volpiano near Turin, Italy. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Nigel Mansell driving in the American CART racing series in 1993 Nigel Ernest James Mansell (born August 8, 1953) is an English former racing driver who won world championships in both Formula One (1992) and CART (1993). ... Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, England. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Scuderia Ferrari is the common name for the Gestione Sportiva, the division of the Ferrari automobile company concerned with racing. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... John Marshall Watson, born May 4, 1946 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was a Formula 1 race car driver. ... McLaren, founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren (1937–1970), is a racing team based in Woking, England, which is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Canadian-American Challenge Cup, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Elio de Angelis (born 26 March 1958 in Rome, Italy; died 15 May 1986) was a Formula One driver who participated during seasons 1979 to 1986. ... Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, England. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Alain Marie Pascal Prost, (born February 24, 1955 in Saint-Chamond, Loire, France), simply known as Alain Prost, is a French racing driver. ... Renault Sport Technologies (commonly known as Renault Sport or RST) is the motorsport division of Renault. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Andrea de Cesaris Andrea de Cesaris (born 31 May 1959, Rome, Italy), a race car driver, holds two distinctions in Formula One: the longest career without a race victory (207 grand prix starts), and also his unofficial title of Andrea de Crasheris, owing to a string of accidents early in... McLaren, founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren (1937–1970), is a racing team based in Woking, England, which is best known as a Formula One constructor but has also competed in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Canadian-American Challenge Cup, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Kevin Cogon was a professional race car driver from USA. He tried but failed to qualify for 2 Formula One grands prix with Tyrrell and Williams. ... Tyrrell was an auto racing team and Formula One constructor founded by Ken Tyrrell. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Derek Daly (b. ... March Engineering was a Formula One constructor from Britain. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Miguel Angel Guerra was a Formula One driver from Argentina. ... Osella was an Italian motor racing company based in Volpiano near Turin, Italy. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Siegfried Stohr was a Formula One driver from Italy. ... Team Orange Arrows Formula One car at the 2000 United States Grand Prix The Arrows Racing Team team was founded in 1977, by Italian financier Franco Ambrosio (A), Alan Rees (R), Jackie Oliver (O), Dave Wass (W) and Tony Southgate (S) when Rees, Oliver, Wass and Southgate left the Shadow... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Eliseo Salazar was a Formula One driver from Chile. ... March Engineering was a Formula One constructor from Britain. ... The Ford Motor Company (usually called Ford; sometimes called FoMoCo), (NYSE: F) is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ...

Notes

• Fastest Lap: Alan Jones 1'20.90 (on lap 31)
• Polesitter: Riccardo Patrese 1'19.39 (first pole for both Patrese and Arrows)
• First points for Alfa Romeo since their return to Formula One
• First points for Eddie Cheever and Patrick Tambay
• First appearance for: Miguel-Angel Guerra, Eliseo Salazar, Chico Sierra and Siegfried Stohr
• Last appearance for: Kevin Cogan and Beppe Gabbiani