Keke's diary

Qualified: 8th Result: 2nd

“I loved Long Beach: it was my American base, and it was where I learned to fly and the track was fantastic.”

But car trouble in practice meant Keke had to qualify in the unsorted T-car. And that left him stuck behind an unwieldy Ferrari. Again.

“Absolutely, this battle with Gilles reminded me of my days racing him in [Formula] Mantics. It was very frustrating, though, because we certainly had the car to win, but it was impossible to pass a turbo. The only place to pass was at the end of that long straight, Shoreline Drive, by which time a turbo car had already pulled away. And then I was all over him for the rest of the lap, and then the same thing happens again.”

Eventually Keke made it stick, and Gilles’ attempt to repass proved overambitious. By then, though, all hopes of catching Lauda were long gone.

Championship positions:

1 Prost 18;

2 Lauda; 12

3 Rosberg, Watson; 8

5 Routemann, Alberto; 6