Formula 1 historical archive

Alan Jones won the 1981 United States Grand Prix West

Alan Jones won the 1981 United States Grand Prix West for Williams, ahead of Carlos Reutemann and Nelson Piquet at Long Beach.

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

Race recap

Winner
Alan Jones
Team
Williams
Top listed
Alan Jones, Carlos Reutemann, and Nelson Piquet
Race date
March 15, 1981
Pole
Riccardo Patrese
Fastest lap
Alan Jones
Classified drivers
29
Circuit
Long Beach

The decisive result

Alan Jones finished first for Williams. Carlos Reutemann is listed 2 for Williams, with Nelson Piquet 3 for Brabham.

Grid to finish

René Arnoux from P20 to P8 (+12), Patrick Tambay from P17 to P6 (+11), and Chico Serra from P18 to P7 (+11) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Riccardo Patrese started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 5 Collision, 5 DNQ, 5 Finished, 4 Accident, and 3 Fuel system. Alan Jones holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:20.901 on lap 31. 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
1Alan JonesWilliams1:50:41.3309
2Carlos ReutemannWilliams1:50:50.5206
3Nelson PiquetBrabham1:51:16.2504
4Mario AndrettiAlfa Romeo1:51:30.6403
5Eddie CheeverTyrrell1:51:48.0302
6Patrick TambayTheodore+1 lap1
7Chico SerraFittipaldi+2 laps0
8René ArnouxRenault+3 laps0
DNFMarc SurerEnsignFuel system0
DNFDidier PironiFerrariFuel system0
DNFJean-Pierre JarierLigierFuel pump0
DNFHéctor RebaqueBrabhamAccident0
DNFBruno GiacomelliAlfa RomeoCollision0
DNFJacques LaffiteLigierCollision0
DNFKeke RosbergFittipaldiEngine0
DNFJan LammersATS WheelsCollision0
DNFRiccardo PatreseArrowsFuel system0
DNFBeppe GabbianiOsellaAccident0
DNFNigel MansellTeam LotusAccident0
DNFGilles VilleneuveFerrariHalfshaft0