Streets of Long Beach

Patrick Depailler wrestling his Tyrrell P34/2 (picture above)  during the 1977 US Grand Prix West held in the streets of Long Beach, California. He qualified his six-wheeler Tyrrell – wearing a French-made GPA helmet – in twelfth position, a disappointment for the quick Frenchman, while his team mate Ronnie Peterson was in tenth, with a very similar lap time.

The 80-lap race was won by Mario Andretti, driving a Lotus 78-Ford. Andretti held off Niki Lauda in a Ferrari to become the only American to win a Formula One race on home soil, while also giving the ground-effect Lotus 78 its first win.

Andretti declared: “It is one of the nicest moments of my career, even more satisfying than winning Indianapolis and really gratifying to have so many people pulling for me.” He added: “The car remained perfectly balanced throughout the race and the brakes were superb.”

Jody Scheckter in the sole Wolf held on for third place, and the scoring was completed by Patrick Depailler’s Tyrrell, fourth over a minute behind, proving the P34 was too bulky for this twisty circuit, then Emerson Fittipaldi in the Copersucar and the ever-spectacular Jean-Pierre Jarier in the ATS-Ford (picture below) in sixth.