1977 United States Grand Prix
The 1977 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 2, 1977, at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. It was the fifteenth race of the 1977 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1977 International Cup for F1 Constructors. The event was also referred to as the United States Grand Prix East in order to distinguish it from the United States Grand Prix West held on April 3, 1977, in Long Beach, California. It was covered on American radio by Motor Racing Network.
| 1977 United States Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 15 of 17 in the 1977 Formula One season | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | October 2, 1977 | ||
| Official name | XX Toyota United States Grand Prix | ||
| Location |
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course Watkins Glen, New York | ||
| Course | Permanent road course | ||
| Course length | 5.435 km (3.377 miles) | ||
| Distance | 59 laps, 320.67 km (199.24 miles) | ||
| Weather |
Rain with temperatures reaching up to 17 °C (63 °F); Winds gusting up to 23.69 km/h (14.72 mph) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Ford | ||
| Time | 1:40.863 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Ronnie Peterson | Tyrrell-Ford | |
| Time | 1:51.85 on lap 56 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | McLaren-Ford | ||
| Second |
| Lotus-Ford | |
| Third | Wolf-Ford | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 59-lap race was won from pole position by James Hunt, driving a McLaren-Ford. In wet conditions, Hunt held off a late charge from Mario Andretti in the Lotus-Ford to take his second consecutive Watkins Glen victory. Jody Scheckter was third in the Wolf-Ford, while Niki Lauda clinched his second Drivers' Championship by finishing fourth in his Ferrari.