United States Grand Prix West
1981 · Round 1 · California, United States · Mar 15, 1981Race summary
Victory went to Jones (from 2nd on the grid), with a 9.190s margin. Arnoux made the biggest gain, from 20th on the grid to 8th (up 12 places).
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | Laps | Time / status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Jones | Williams | 2 | 80 | 1:50:41.330 | 9 |
| 2 | Carlos Reutemann | Williams | 3 | 80 | +9.190 | 6 |
| 3 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 4 | 80 | +34.920 | 4 |
| 4 | Mario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | 6 | 80 | +49.310 | 3 |
| 5 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell | 8 | 80 | +1:06.700 | 2 |
| 6 | Patrick Tambay | Theodore | 17 | 79 | +1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | Chico Serra | Fittipaldi | 18 | 78 | +2 Laps | 0 |
| 8 | René Arnoux | Renault | 20 | 77 | +3 Laps | 0 |
| – | Marc Surer | Ensign | 19 | 70 | Fuel system | 0 |
| – | Didier Pironi | Ferrari | 11 | 67 | Fuel system | 0 |
| – | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Ligier | 10 | 64 | Fuel pump | 0 |
| – | Hector Rebaque | Brabham | 15 | 49 | Accident | 0 |
| – | Bruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 9 | 41 | Collision | 0 |
| – | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 12 | 41 | Collision | 0 |
| – | Keke Rosberg | Fittipaldi | 16 | 41 | Engine | 0 |
| – | Jan Lammers | ATS | 21 | 41 | Collision | 0 |
| – | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows | 1 | 33 | Fuel system | 0 |
| – | Beppe Gabbiani | Osella | 24 | 26 | Accident | 0 |
| – | Nigel Mansell | Team Lotus | 7 | 25 | Accident | 0 |
| – | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 5 | 17 | Halfshaft | 0 |
| – | John Watson | McLaren | 23 | 16 | Brakes | 0 |
| – | Elio de Angelis | Team Lotus | 13 | 13 | Accident | 0 |
| – | Alain Prost | Renault | 14 | 0 | Collision | 0 |
| – | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren | 22 | 0 | Collision | 0 |