1980 Brazilian Grand Prix

1980 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix is the 2nd race of the 1980 F1 Season. It was won by Rene Arnoux with Jones 2nd and Laffite 3rd. This would be the last of 8 Grands Prix held at the original 5-mile Interlagos circuit. In addition to the safety problems not helped by the rather lackluster upgrades of the circuit, Sāo Paulo had grown at an alarming rate over the space of 10 years from 5 to 8 million people. There were growing favelas and shanty towns around the circuit, and the circuit's surrounding area's poverty-stricken appearance was at odds with Formula One's image, which was evolving into a glamour sport. F1 would return to the Jacarepaguá Autodrome in Rio de Janeiro, having already been there in 1978 for the rest of the 1980s.

Pre-Race

Months before the race, a number of drivers including world champion Jody Scheckter, wanted to boycott the event due to safety concerns with the nearly 5-mile Interlagos circuit. The improvements made to the circuit made in 1978 and 1979 were not good enough for the drivers, as the circuit was still extremely bumpy (which the circuit was well known for) and the catch-fencing and barriers surrounding the circuit were not perceived to be adequate to protect the drivers from the embankments and ditches around the circuit. The side skirted-ground effect wing cars at the time were not stiffly sprung yet, and had a tendency to bounce up and down over bumps, making them rather intolerant and of such a rough surface as Interlagos's was, and this made the cars very unpleasant to drive there. The drivers even claimed the surface was so bad that it was actually dangerous to drive those cars at the Sāo Paulo city-located circuit, and although Scheckter and the other concerned drivers nearly succeeded in stopping the race, it went ahead.

Qualifying

Arnoux took pole with Jones 2nd and Jabouille 3rd. Scheckter qualified 8th whilst Cheever, Johansson, Kennedy and Lammers all failed to qualify.

### Race

Pole-sitter Arnoux had made a poor start and dropped to fourth, with both Jones, Jabouille and Gilles Villeneuve in his Ferrari 312T5 getting past; however, Jabouille's horsepower advantage on the high-altitude circuit meant that he passed both Jones and Villeneuve Jones immediately on the Retao straight, Villeneuve at Arquibacanas at the end of the first lap. Arnoux had gotten up to 2nd, and when Jabouille retired Arnoux took the lead over and kept it until the checkered flag.

Alain Prost (McLaren M29) and Riccardo Patrese (Arrows A3) battled for much of the second half of the race, with Prost having the advantage through the corners while Patrese was quicker in the straights. Ricardo Zunino (Brabham BT49) bumped into John Watson (McLaren M29) at Curva 3 and spun off; however, he was able to recover and finish the race. Brazilian hopeful Emerson Fittipaldi fought back to sixth after a poor start but then suffered a puncture which subsequently caused suspension failure.

Pironi had to make an early pit stop after puncturing a tire, and he rejoined near the back of the field, however he began a charge and he was able to finish 6th on this most difficult and demanding of circuits. This effort was enough for Enzo Ferrari to take an interest in Pironi's services; which he secured for the 1981 season.