1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

The 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the final race of the 1982 Season, and also the third visit to the US that season.'GRAND PRIX RESULTS: UNITED STATES GP, 1982', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 1999), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr373.html, (Accessed 31/07/2015) The race would be a collection of firsts, as Michele Alboreto won his first Grand Prix, while Keke Rosberg won the World Championship.
Rosberg had arrived in the US with a nine point advantage over John Watson, with the Brit falling just short of victory at Caesars Palace, finishing second. With Eddie Cheever and Alain Prost in third and fourth, Rosberg took fifth to win the title, as Watson took second overall, beating the injured Didier Pironi through his two wins.
==Background==
As the field set out for the Las Vegas Strip, the title battle for the driver's championship was rather simple: John Watson (on 33 points) needed to win with Keke Rosberg (on 42) failing to score. In other words, it was Rosberg's title to lose (particularly with a decision pending about his disqualification in Brazil where he had finished second). Although Didier Pironi sat on 39 points, he was out of the title race due to injuries suffered in Hockenheim (injuries which ended his career).
The Constructor's Championship was slightly more complicated, with three teams (,  and ) in the hunt. The Italians would win if one of their driver's took second, regardless of the other team's results. For McLaren, they had to score eleven points more than Ferrari (with a maximum 15 on offer) to take victory, while Renault had to take first and second and see the Italians fail to score a point.
Driver wise there were no changes, as Ferrari opted to give Mario Andretti his final bow in the no. 28 Ferrari 126C2 at his home race. The 1983 driver list also continued to unveil itself, as Jacques Laffite announced his move to , leaving Talbot Ligier to look for two new drivers. Toleman, meanwhile, had continued to develop their new car after Monza, with Derek Warwick hoping to cover more than half a lap in Las Vegas.
==Entry List==
The full entry list for the is shown below:
No.	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Model 	Tyre
1 	Nelson Piquet 	Parmalat Racing Team 	 	BT50 	 	M12/13 L4t 1.5	
2 	Riccardo Patrese 	Parmalat Racing Team 	 	BT50 	 	M12/13 L4t 1.5	
3 	Michele Alboreto 	Team Tyrrell 	 	011 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
4 	Brian Henton 	Team Tyrrell 	 	011 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
5 	Derek Daly 	TAG Williams Team 	 	FW08 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
6 	Keke Rosberg 	TAG Williams Team 	 	FW08 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
7 	John Watson 	Marlboro McLaren International	 	MP4/1B 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
8 	Niki Lauda 	Marlboro McLaren International	 	MP4/1B 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
9 	Manfred Winkelhock	Team ATS 	 	D5 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
10 	Eliseo Salazar 	Team ATS 	 	D5 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
11 	Elio de Angelis 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	91 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
12 	Nigel Mansell 	John Player Team Lotus 	 	91 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
14 	Roberto Guerrero 	Ensign Racing 	 	N181 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
15 	Alain Prost 	Equipe Renault Elf 	 	RE30B 	 	EF1 V6t 1.5 	
17 	Rupert Keegan 	Rothmans March Grand Prix Team	 	821 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
18 	Raul Boesel 	Rothmans March Grand Prix Team	 	821 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
20 	Chico Serra 	Fittipaldi Automotive 	 	F9 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	182 	 	1260 V12 3.0 	
23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 	 	182 	 	1260 V12 3.0 	
25 	Eddie Cheever 	Equipe Talbot Gitanes 	 	JS19 	 	MS81 V12 3.0 	
26 	Jacques Laffite 	Equipe Talbot Gitanes 	 	JS19 	 	MS81 V12 3.0 	
27 	Patrick Tambay 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	126C2 	 	021 V6t 1.5 	
28 	Mario Andretti 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 	 	126C2 	 	021 V6t 1.5 	
29 	Marc Surer 	Arrows Racing Team 	 	A4 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
30 	Mauro Baldi 	Arrows Racing Team 	 	A4 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
31 	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Osella Squadra Course 	 	FA1D 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
33 	Tommy Byrne 	Theodore Racing Team 	 	TY02 	 	DFV V8 3.0 	
35 	Derek Warwick 	Toleman Group Motorsport 	 	TG183 	 	415T L4t 1.5 	
36 	Teo Fabi 	Toleman Group Motorsport 	 	TG181C 	 	415T L4t 1.5 	
==Practice Overview==
In practice, the turbos continued to dominate the field, as Renault seemed to hold the initative over Brabham and Ferrari. With 30 entrants (the same field as in Italy two weeks earlier) there were no cars eliminated before the main qualifying session for the race.
==Qualifying==
Practice translated into a one-two for Renault in qualifying, as Alain Prost (still annoyed after another retirement in Italy had cost him the championship) beat the departing René Arnoux to pole. They beat the shock performance of Michele Alboreto in the non-turbo Tyrrell, who claimed third ahead of the equally impressive Eddie Cheever in the Ligier. Riccardo Patrese put his Brabham into fifth, as Rosberg took sixth three places ahead of title rival Watson.
Those made to miss the final showdown of 1982 included Jean-Pierre Jarier (whom crashed after he set his time), Teo Fabi (in the old Toleman), Eliseo Salazar and Chico Serra.
===Qualifying Results===
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time'1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix: Qualifying', manipef1.com, (Manipe F1, 2004), http://www.manipef1.com/results/1982/italy/qualifying/, (Accessed 31/07/2015)	Gap
1 	15 	 Alain Prost 	 	1:16.356 	
2 	16 	René Arnoux 	 	1:16.786 	+0.430s
3 	3 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:17.646 	+1.290s
4 	25 	Eddie Cheever 	 	1:17.683 	+1.327s
5 	2 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:17.772 	+1.416s
6 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	1:17.886 	+1.530s
7 	28 	Mario Andretti 	 	1:17.921 	+1.565s
8 	27 	Patrick Tambay 	 	1:17.958 	+1.602s
9 	7 	John Watson 	 	1:17.986 	+1.630s
10 	35 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:18.012 	+1.656s
11 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	1:18.056 	+1.700s
12 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:18.275 	+1.919s
13 	8 	Niki Lauda 	 	1:18.333 	+1.977s
14 	5 	Derek Daly 	 	1:18.418 	+2.062s
15 	14 	Roberto Guerrero 	 	1:18.496 	+2.142s
16 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	1:18.622 	+2.266s
17 	29 	Marc Surer 	 	1:18.734 	+2.378s
18 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:18.761 	+2.405s
19 	4 	Brian Henton 	 	1:18.765 	+2.409s
EXC*	31 	Jean-Pierre Jarier	 	1:19.222 	+2.866s
20 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	1:19.302 	+2.946s
21 	12 	NIgel Mansell 	 	1:19.439 	+3.083s
22 	9 	Manfred Winkelhock	 	1:19.767 	+3.411s
23 	30 	Mauro Baldi 	 	1:20.271 	+3.915s
24 	18 	Raul Boesel 	 	1:20.766 	+4.410s
25 	17 	Rupert Keegan 	 	1:21.180 	+4.824s
26 	33 	Tommy Byrne 	 	1:21.555 	+5.199s
DNQ 	36 	Teo Fabi 	 	1:21.569 	+5.213s
DNQ 	10 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	1:21.583 	+5.227s
DNQ 	20 	Chico Serra 	 	1:22.387 	+6.031s
* Jean-Pierre Jarier crashed during the session, with his team unable to rebuild his car for the race, meaning he was removed from qualifying.
===Grid===
The starting grid for the is displayed below:
==Race==
The post-qualifying break saw news emerge regarding the Constructor's Championship, as Patrick Tambay decided to withdraw from the grid due to his trapped nerve. The Saturday race also lost Roberto Guerrero, whose day was ended by engine failure at the end of qualifying (with the team unable to get the new unit to start in time for the race). Despite these casualties, the lights were set to go out for the final time in 1982, with the title still (mathematically) in the balance.
===Report===
Ferrari’s bad day was set to get worse from the start, as Arnoux and Prost set off in the lead, Arnoux challenging Prost throughout the first lap before slipping into first on the second. Andretti, meanwhile, was in a dangerous battle with the WIlliams duo and Riccardo Patrese (whom was surprised to be left behind by Michele Alboreto and Eddie Cheever in the opening stages). Having an even worse start, however, was John Watson, whom slipped to twelfth on the opening lap.'1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix', wikipedia.org, (WikiMedia, 13/12/2014), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Caesars_Palace_Grand_Prix, (Accessed 31/07/2015)
By lap 15, however, the order changed, as Watson rediscovered the form that had got him into the position he was in in the title battle to rise through the field. Arnoux, meanwhile, fell behind Prost and soon retired with engine failure, as Alboreto and Cheever worked to keep Prost in their sights. They were suddenly, however, under pressure from the charging McLaren of Watson, which had carved its way past Patrese, Andretti, Rosberg, Derek Daly and Nelson Piquet over the space of three laps (soon adding Cheever to that list as Alboreto began to make a solo charge on Prost).
The order remained unchanged until the race entered the final quarter in distance, as Alboreto caught up to Prost's gearbox, poised to strike at any moment. With Watson slowly creeping on the pair, Alboreto used his fresher tyres (Prost having worn his more and picked up debris that caused a vibration) to put himself in the lead for the first time in his career on the 53rd lap. Within four laps, Watson had breezed past the Frenchman as well, although he began to struggle with tyre issues of his own, preventing him from catching Alboreto to the extent he had been.
His efforts were, however, being proved futile, as the demise of Patrese and Andretti (both out with mechanical issues) meant Rosberg was in a safe fifth place, Daly acting as a distant tail gunner for him. Alboreto held on for victory, with Watson having to settle for second in both race and championship. Prost's pace fell enough that he lost out to future Renault team mate Eddie Cheever (the Frenchman putting up little resistance), with Rosberg claiming fifth to take the title. Daly completed the points, with Ferrari taking the Constructor's championship despite not scoring (both McLaren and Renault failed to secure the points they needed).
===Results===
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired 	Grid	Points
1 	3 	Michele Alboreto 	 	75 	1:41:56.888 	3 	9
2 	7 	John Watson 	 	75 	+27.292s 	9 	6
3 	25 	Eddie Cheever 	 	75 	+56.450s 	4 	4
4 	15 	Alain Prost 	 	75 	+1:08.648 	1 	3
5 	6 	Keke Rosberg 	 	75 	+1:11.375 	6 	2
6 	5 	Derek Daly 	 	74 	+1 lap 	14 	1
7 	29 	Marc Surer 	 	74 	+1 lap 	17 	
8 	4 	Brian Henton 	 	74 	+1 lap 	19 	
9 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	73 	+2 laps 	18 	
10 	23 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	73 	+2 laps 	16 	
11 	30 	Mauro Baldi 	 	73 	+2 laps 	23 	
12 	17 	Rupert Keegan 	 	73 	+2 laps 	25 	
13 	18 	Raul Boesel 	 	69 	+6 laps 	24 	
NC 	9 	Manfred Winkelhock	 	62 	Not Classified	22 	
Ret 	8 	Niki Lauda 	 	53 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	33 	Tommy Byrne 	 	39 	Spin 	26 	
Ret 	35 	Derek Warwick 	 	32 	Spark plugs 	10 	
Ret 	11 	Elio de Angelis 	 	28 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	28 	Mario Andretti 	 	26 	Suspension 	7 	
Ret 	1 	Nelson Piquet 	 	26 	Spark plugs 	12 	
Ret 	16 	René Arnoux 	 	20 	Engine 	2 	
Ret 	2 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	17 	Clutch 	5 	
Ret 	12 	Nigel Mansell 	 	8 	Accident 	21 	
Ret 	26 	Jacques Laffite 	 	5 	Ignition 	11 	
DNS 	28 	Patrick Tambay 	 	0 	Trapped nerve 	8 	
DNS 	14 	Roberto Guerrero 	 	0 	Engine 	15 	
DNQ 	36 	Teo Fabi 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	10 	Eliseo Salazar 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	20 	Chico Serra 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	31 	Jean-Pierre Jarier	 	 	 	 	
==Milestones==
*Last race for Mario Andretti.
*Seventh Constructor's Championship for Ferrari.
*First World Championship for Keke Rosberg.
**First title won by a Finnish driver.
*Eleventh different winner in 1982.
==Standings==
So, Keke Rosberg became the 20th Formula One World Champion at Caesars Palace, beating John Watson and Didier Pironi by five points. In a season which would be remembered for the tragic losses of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti, Renault would also have to bear the brunt of disappointment, as they failed to win either Championship, despite having the fastest car throughout the season. Alain Prost was left in fourth, with René Arnoux even further back.
Ferrari failed to score in the US, but still won the Constructors Championship, their seventh in total, as McLaren only managed to score six of the eleven points they needed to overhaul them. Renault claimed third, twelve behind the tifosi, while Williams clinched fourth, largely through Rosberg's tally. Team Lotus ended the season in fifth, with Tyrrell leapfrogging the entry and Ligier through Michele Alboreto's victory.  
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts 	+/-
1 	Keke Rosberg 	44 	
2 	Didier Pironi 	39 	
3 	John Watson 	39 	
4 	Alain Prost 	34 	
5 	Niki Lauda 	30 	
6 	René Arnoux 	29 	
7 	Patrick Tambay 	25 	
8 	Michele Alboreto 	25 	3
9 	Elio de Angelis 	23 	1
9 	Riccardo Patrese 	21 	1
10 	Nelson Piquet 	20 	1
12 	Eddie Cheever 	15 	
13 	Derek Daly 	8 	1
14 	Nigel Mansell 	7 	1
15 	Carlos Reutemann 	6 	
16 	Gilles Villeneuve 	6 	
17 	Jacques Laffite 	5 	
18 	Andrea de Cesaris 	5 	
19 	Mario Andretti 	4 	
20 	Jean-Pierre Jarier 	3 	
21 	Marc Surer 	3 	
22 	Bruno Giacomelli 	2 	
23 	Eliseo Salazar 	2 	
24 	Manfred Winkelhock 	2 	
25 	Mauro Baldi 	2 	
26 	Chico Serra 	1 	
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts 	+/-
1 	 	74 	
2 	 	69 	
3 	 	62 	
4 	 	58 	
5 	 	30 	
6 	 	25 	3
7 	 	22 	1
8 	 	20 	
9 	 	19 	2
10 	 	7 	
11 	 	5 	
12 	 	4 	
13 	 	3 	
14 	 	1 	
==References==
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Caesars Palace Grand Prix
Category:1982 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in the United States