47th, Ferrari's Misfortune, McLaren's Glory: Watson's Win at Long Beach GP West
This was a race whose grid bore little relation to the racing reality. Ferrari seemed in good shape, with Patrick Tambay and René Arnoux locking out the front row, but McLaren’s drivers struggled to make their Michelin qualifiers work.
They lined up in close company, though, John Watson 22nd and Niki Lauda 23rd…
Tambay led into the first corner as Keke Rosberg separated the Ferraris, the Finn thumping Arnoux’s front right wheel in the process. Rosberg then spun a couple of corners later, but lost a place only to team-mate Jacques Laffite.