Nilsson progresses
Gunnar Nilsson looks pensive, sitting on the sidepod of his Lotus 78 (Cosworth V8 engine well visible) before the start of the 1977 United States Grand Prix West, run on the streets of Long Beach in California (photo above by Kurt Oblinger).
The Swede has good reason to be perplexed, as he qualified 16th, 1.75 seconds behind pole-sitter Niki Lauda (Ferrari), and a second and a half behind his teammate Mario Andretti, who qualified on the front row. He knows his car is capable of better and needs to bounce back.
At the end of this 80 laps race, it was Mario Andretti who emerged victorious at the wheel of his Lotus 78 and its revolutionary sidepods which generated so much downforce (ground effect), while Nilsson had a solid race and finished eighth, but one lap behind his illustrious teammate.
It should be mentioned that Nilsson only had one Formula 1 season under his belt, and that he was progressing steadily. A few races later, he would win in torrential rain at the 1977 Belgian Grand Prix held at Zolder (photo below leading the McLarens of Jochen Mass and James Hunt).
That day, Gunnar Nilsson stopped to change a vibrating tire, and equipped with four new ones, he climbed back up the order and overtook Niki Lauda’s Ferrari, winning what would be the only victory of his short career.
