United States Grand Prix 1979 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Gilles Villeneuve closed the season with a spectacular victory at the United States Grand Prix, delivering a brilliant performance at Watkins Glen that reminded everyone of his extraordinary talent. The French-Canadian drove with his characteristic fearless commitment on the challenging upstate New York circuit, threading his Ferrari through the fast, flowing corners with breathtaking precision. Villeneuve's third victory of the season demonstrated why Ferrari had such faith in him despite finishing second in the championship to teammate Scheckter.

René Arnoux claimed second place for Renault, with the Frenchman's consistent performances throughout the season establishing him as one of turbo technology's pioneers. Didier Pironi secured third place for Tyrrell, with the young Frenchman continuing to impress with performances that would soon earn him a Ferrari contract. Alan Jones could only manage fourth, ending his remarkable winning streak but taking nothing away from his four victories in five races. The season ended with multiple storylines - Scheckter's championship, Villeneuve's spectacular talent, Williams's emergence, and Renault's turbo breakthrough.

The 1979 championship had been decided at Monza where Jody Scheckter clinched the title, making Watkins Glen a celebration rather than a showdown. Scheckter's championship by four points over Villeneuve represented a triumph of tactical intelligence and consistency over raw speed, with the South African maximizing points when circumstances allowed while avoiding the errors that plagued faster rivals. Villeneuve's victory at Watkins Glen provided a bittersweet conclusion to a season where he had demonstrated his status as Formula 1's most spectacular performer while finishing second in the championship. The 1979 season marked the end of an era - Ferrari's last championship for 21 years, naturally aspirated engines' final dominance before the turbo revolution, and the conclusion of the ground effect golden age before regulatory restrictions.