Round 15 · 1978
United States Grand Prix
WinnerREUFerrari · from P2
PoleANI
Fastest lap1:39.557Jarier · L55
Biggest gain+12Tambay P18→P6
Retirements10of 26 starters
Classification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | +/− | Laps | Time / Status | Pits | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Reutemann REU | Ferrari | 2 | +1 | 59 | 1:40:48.800 | — | 9 |
| 2 | Alan Jones JOE | Williams | 3 | +1 | 59 | +19.740 | — | 6 |
| 3 | Jody Scheckter SCK | Wolf | 11 | +8 | 59 | +45.700 | — | 4 |
| 4 | Alpine | 9 | +5 | 59 | +1:25.010 | — | 3 | |
| 5 | Fittipaldi | 13 | +8 | 59 | +1:28.090 | — | 2 | |
| 6 | Patrick Tambay TAM | McLaren | 18 | +12 | 59 | +1:50.210 | — | 1 |
| 7 | James Hunt HUN | McLaren | 6 | -1 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 8 | Derek Daly DAD | Ensign | 19 | +11 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 9 | Surtees | 21 | +12 | 58 | +1 lap | — | ||
| 10 | Didier Pironi PIR | Tyrrell | 16 | +6 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 11 | Jacques Laffite LAF | Ligier | 10 | -1 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 12 | Bobby Rahal RAH | Wolf | 20 | +8 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 13 | Brett Lunger LUN | Ensign | 24 | +11 | 58 | +1 lap | — | |
| 14 | Clay Regazzoni REA | Shadow | 17 | +3 | 56 | +3 laps | — | |
| 15 | Team Lotus | 8 | -7 | 55 | +4 laps FL | — | ||
| 16 | Rolf Stommelen STM | Arrows | 22 | +6 | 54 | +5 laps | — | |
| — | Mario Andretti ANI | Team Lotus | 1 | 27 | DNF · L27 | — | ||
| — | Niki Lauda LAU | Brabham | 5 | 28 | DNF · L28 | — | ||
| — | Patrick Depaille ANU | Tyrrell | 12 | 23 | DNF · L23 | — | ||
| — | Arturo Merzario MEZ | Merzario | 26 | 46 | DNF · L46 | — | ||
| — | John Watson WAT | Brabham | 7 | 25 | DNF · L25 | — | ||
| — | Shadow | 14 | 1 | DNF · L1 | — | |||
| — | Hector Rebaque REB | Team Lotus | 23 | 0 | DNF · L0 | — | ||
| — | Ferrari | 4 | 22 | DNF · L22 | — | |||
| — | ATS | 25 | 43 | DNF · L43 | — | |||
| — | Keke Rosberg ROG | ATS | 15 | 21 | DNF · L21 | — | ||
| — | Beppe Gabbiani GAB | Surtees | — | 0 | DNQ | — |
Session schedule
Grand PrixFinal
Championship after round 15
| Pos | Driver | Pts | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario Andretti ANI | 64 | |
| 2 | Ronnie Peterson PEO | 51 | |
| 3 | Carlos Reutemann REU | 44 | ▲1 |
| 4 | Niki Lauda LAU | 44 | ▼1 |
| 5 | Patrick Depaille ANU | 32 | |
| 6 | John Watson WAT | 25 | |
| 7 | Jacques Laffite LAF | 19 | |
| 8 | Jody Scheckter SCK | 18 | ▲1 |
Running totals from published race points.
Recent winners at Watkins Glen International
Circuit DNA| Season | Event | Winner | Team | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | United States Grand Prix | James Hunt HUN | McLaren | 1 |
| 1976 | United States Grand Prix | James Hunt HUN | McLaren | 1 |
| 1975 | United States Grand Prix | Niki Lauda LAU | Ferrari | 1 |
| 1974 | United States Grand Prix | Carlos Reutemann REU | Brabham | 1 |
| 1973 | United States Grand Prix | Ronnie Peterson PEO | Team Lotus | 1 |
| 1972 | United States Grand Prix | Jackie Stewart STJ | Tyrrell | 1 |
| 1971 | United States Grand Prix | Tyrrell | 5 | |
| 1970 | United States Grand Prix | Team Lotus | 3 |