1979 French Grand Prix
The 1979 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 1 July 1979 at Dijon-Prenois near Dijon, France.
| 1979 French Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 8 of 15 in the 1979 Formula One season | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | July 1, 1979 | ||
| Location | Dijon | ||
| Course length | 3.801 km (2.361 miles) | ||
| Distance | 80 laps, 304.08 km (188.88 miles) | ||
| Weather | Dry | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Renault | ||
| Time | 1:07.19 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | René Arnoux | Renault | |
| Time | 1:09.16 on lap 71 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Renault | ||
| Second | Ferrari | ||
| Third | Renault | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
It marked not just the first victory of a forced-induction car in Formula One since the Alfa Romeo 159's victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1951, but also the first victory of a turbocharged car in Formula One, with Renault overcoming the reliability problems that had initially plagued their car. For Jean-Pierre Jabouille it was a victory on home soil, driving a French car (Renault), on French tyres (Michelin), powered by a French engine (Renault), burning French fuel (Elf). Jabouille was the first Frenchman to win the French Grand Prix since Jean-Pierre Wimille in 1948.
The race featured one of the fiercest battles ever for second place, between Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve and Renault driver René Arnoux, who on several occasions during the final laps touched wheels and swapped positions. The fight is often cited as one of the most memorable pieces of racing in Formula One. Villeneuve, who passed the finish line less than a quarter of a second ahead of Arnoux, later described the occasion as "my best memory of Grand Prix racing".