Formula 1 historical archive

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix

Mario Andretti won the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix for Team Lotus, ahead of Niki Lauda and Patrick Depailler at Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Mario Andretti
Team
Team Lotus
Top listed
Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, and Patrick Depailler
Race date
January 15, 1978
Pole
Mario Andretti
Fastest lap
Gilles Villeneuve
Classified drivers
27
Circuit
Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez

The decisive result

Mario Andretti finished first for Team Lotus. Niki Lauda is listed 2 for Brabham, with Patrick Depailler 3 for Tyrrell.

Grid to finish

Brett Lunger from P24 to P13 (+11), Didier Pironi from P23 to P14 (+9), and Emerson Fittipaldi from P17 to P9 (+8) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Mario Andretti started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 11 Finished, 4 +1 lap, 3 DNQ, 3 Engine, and 2 +2 laps. Gilles Villeneuve holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:49.760 on lap 3. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus1:37:04.4709
2Niki LaudaBrabham1:37:17.6806
3Patrick DepaillerTyrrell1:37:18.1104
4James HuntMcLaren1:37:20.5203
5Ronnie PetersonTeam Lotus1:38:19.3202
6Patrick TambayMcLaren1:38:24.3701
7Carlos ReutemannFerrari1:38:27.0700
8Gilles VilleneuveFerrari1:38:43.3500
9Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi1:38:45.0700
10Jody ScheckterWolf1:38:47.9700
11Jochen MassATS Wheels1:38:53.5400
12Jean-Pierre JarierATS Wheels+1 lap0
13Brett LungerMcLaren+1 lap0
14Didier PironiTyrrell+1 lap0
15Clay RegazzoniShadow+1 lap0
16Jacques LaffiteLigierEngine0
17Hans-Joachim StuckShadow+2 laps0
18Vittorio BrambillaSurtees+2 laps0
DNFJohn WatsonBrabhamEngine0
DNFAlan JonesWilliamsFuel system0