Villeneuve splashes the competition

During the particularly wet practice sessions on the Friday before the 1979 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Gilles Villeneuve, driving his Ferrari 312 T4, literally splashed the competition by setting the best time… with a full 10 seconds advantage over all those who, like him, had dared to go out in this rotten weather.

By the time the teams arrived at Watkins Glen for the final round of the 1979 season, Jody Scheckter had already won the title at Monza and Ferrari had clinched the constructors’ title.

Villeneuve dominated this United States Grand Prix, which was held in the rain, securing his third victory of the season and the title of vice-world champion, determined to do even better next season. 

It was the final Grand Prix of the career of 1969 and 1970 championship runner-up Jacky Ickx, Alex Ribeiro, Arturo Merzario and Hans-Joachim Stuck, as well as the last Grand Prix for the Wolf team. It would also be the last victory in history for a car powered by a flat-12 engine.