Determination pays

Patrick Depailler seems determined as he sits on his Tyrrell 008-Ford, ahead of the 1978 US Grand Prix East held at Watkins Glen (picture-above). The Frenchman and his car, winners of the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix, are less competitive on this circuit and retire on lap 23, with a broken wheel.

The Tyrrell 008 was designed by Maurice Philippe to replace the six-wheeler P34 used the two previous seasons. Of a much simpler and conventional design, it had an aluminium monocoque in front of a V8 Cosworth DFV. Enough of the headaches due to size and weight.

Depailler thus claimed his first Grand Prix victory in Monaco at his 69th attempt (picture-below), scored podium finishes in Argentina, in South Africa (where he should have won, but ran short of fuel), at Long Beach and dominated his highly-rated team mate Pironi, to finish fifth in the final standings.