1985 United States Grand Prix

The **1985 United States Grand Prix North**was a Formula One motor race held at Road America on 23rd June 1985. It was the fifth race in both the 1985 Drivers' Championship and the 1985 Constructors' Championship.

## Qualifying

Stefan Wolff took pole position for the second time in a row after the Canadian Grand Prix, followed by the Williams cars of Vivaldo Margheriti and Danilo Koren.

## Race Summary

Wolff had a good start and led until turn five when Vivaldo Margheriti made a forceful pass on the German. Margheriti continued to lead until Wolff retook the position at the same spot on lap five.

Further back, there was a battle between Jack Wilson, Danilo Koren, and Strip Weathers for sixth. Wilson struggled to pass a resurgent Weathers until lap three when he overtook the American driver at turn six.

Tyre wear was higher than expected due to the higher temperatures on race day and race leader Wolff was one of the first drivers to pit for new tyres. He jumped onto the hard tyres, whilst Vivaldo Margheriti stayed out for another lap and pitted for new medium tyres, overcutting Wolff in the process. Wolff's stop had been slower than usual as the team had changed his front wing following the contact with Vivaldo. Chuck Dingley also had a slow stop and lost several seconds whilst the mechanics struggled to fit the left-rear tyre. Dingley chose to fit new soft tyres and was two-stopping in an attempt to close on the leaders on pure pace.

Vivaldo Margheriti continued to lead the race over Stefan Wolff and his brother Fabiano Margheriti when Fabiano decided to pit for new soft tyres. The late stop dropped him into eighth behind Chuck Dingley. Vivaldo's tyres started to drop off in performance with just a few laps to go and Wolff, who was running on the hard tyres, closed on the Italian driver. The pair were separated by just a second as they started the final lap and Vivaldo was forced to place his car perfectly to hold off Wolff. The Italian went on to win the race by under three tenths ahead of Wolff, with Santiago Reyes in third, taking his first podium of the year and Brabham's best finish of the season so far. Koren and Weathers finished in fourth and fifth, whilst Wilson finished in sixth after a mid-race spin cost him ten seconds. Dingley, who had been closing on Wilson in the final laps, settled for seventh, with Fabiano Margheriti in eighth. Hugo Kovacs finished a race for the first time this season, taking ninth and two points.

## Post-Race

Wolff was visibly angry with Vivaldo Margheriti following the race, stating *"Vivaldo made a stupid move down the inside and damaged my front wing, so yeah a bit compromised at the stop as the team had to change it, which ultimately cost us the race victory today. So I'm not really disappointed in myself, more so Vivaldo. I thought the Margheriti's were clean drivers at the start of this season but every race I've seen so far has made me doubt this. They can expect no more quarter on track anymore."*  Margheriti was adamant that he had taken the lead and race win in a fair way.

## Championship Standings

 2
 3
 4
 5

 2
 3
 4
 5

## Lap Leaders

Vivaldo Margheriti (Laps 1-4, 8-9, 12-22)

Stefan Wolff (Laps 5-7)

Fabiano Margheriti (Laps 10-11)