Long Beach
California, USA · 8 races held
Race History
| Year | Grand Prix | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | United States Grand Prix West | John Watson | McLaren |
| 1982 | United States Grand Prix West | Niki Lauda | McLaren |
| 1981 | United States Grand Prix West | Alan Jones | Williams |
| 1980 | United States Grand Prix West | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| 1979 | United States Grand Prix West | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari |
| 1978 | United States Grand Prix West | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari |
| 1977 | United States Grand Prix West | Mario Andretti | Team Lotus |
| 1976 | United States Grand Prix West | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari |
About Long Beach
The streets of Long Beach, California, hosted the United States Grand Prix West from 1976 to 1983, bringing Formula 1 to the heart of a Southern California seaside city. Conceived as an American answer to Monaco, the race transformed downtown Long Beach into a permanent fixture of the calendar and helped popularise the modern street-circuit format.
After the 1983 race, Formula 1 departed and the event switched to American open-wheel categories, under which the Long Beach Grand Prix continues to thrive to this day. During its eight F1 years it produced memorable racing and helped grow the sport's profile in the United States.
Memorable Moments
- 1976: Clay Regazzoni dominated the very first Long Beach Grand Prix for Ferrari, leading from start to finish.
- 1977: American star Mario Andretti delighted the home crowd with a victory for Lotus on his way to becoming World Champion the following year.
- 1980: Nelson Piquet took a commanding victory for Brabham, an early statement in his rise toward the World Championship.
- 1983: John Watson produced an astonishing drive for McLaren, charging from 22nd on the grid to win Formula 1's final Long Beach race.
Track Character
Long Beach was a true street circuit, its walls and tight corners winding through the city's downtown and shoreline, earning it the nickname of an American Monaco. The bumpy public-road surface, unforgiving barriers and a mix of slow hairpins and faster sections demanded precision and bravery, while the proximity of the concrete walls punished the smallest mistake. Overtaking required patience and a strong run out of the slower corners, and the lively, sun-soaked Californian atmosphere gave the event a character all its own.