For the final time, the Formula 1 circus convened in the Long Beach suburb of Los Angeles for the eighth running of the US GP West. Nelson Piquet led the world championship after a dominant home win in Brazil, but the twisting street track would surely put the normally aspirated armada (such as a vindictive Keke Rosberg, keen to make up for his DSQ) in with a shout of success too.
Championship standings after one round:
1. Piquet (9)
2. Lauda (4)
3. Laffite (3)
4. Tambay (2)
5. Surer (1)