Caesars Palace Grand Prix 1982 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Michele Alboreto won the bizarre Caesars Palace Grand Prix around a parking lot circuit in the Nevada desert, but the race's true significance was Keke Rosberg's fifth-place finish that secured the World Championship. The Flying Finn drove conservatively, avoiding risks on the bumpy, temporary circuit to score the points needed to clinch the title. Rosberg's championship with just one victory remains unique in Formula 1 history, epitomizing 1982's unprecedented chaos where consistency trumped outright dominance.

John Watson finished second for McLaren ahead of Eddie Cheever, while championship contenders Alain Prost, John Watson, and Didier Pironi (absent due to injury) all fell short. The unlikely setting - a car park behind a Las Vegas casino - provided a surreal backdrop for concluding Formula 1's most tragic and unpredictable season. The bumpy surface and punishing heat tested both cars and drivers, with only the strongest surviving to the finish. Rosberg's tactical approach proved perfect for the conditions, as he managed his Williams FW08 through the treacherous circuit without incident.

The championship honored the memory of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti, both killed during the season, while demonstrating that Formula 1 could emerge from its darkest period and crown a deserving champion. Rosberg's 44 points came from just one win at Dijon plus five second places, showcasing remarkable consistency across 16 races that saw eleven different winners. His title represented a victory for racecraft, consistency, and survival in a year that claimed two drivers' lives and ended Didier Pironi's career with devastating injuries at Hockenheim. The season's chaos - defined by the FISA-FOCA war, multiple tragedies, and unprecedented unpredictability - made Rosberg's achievement all the more remarkable. The Finnish driver's ability to score points in nearly every race while rivals suffered mechanical failures or accidents proved the decisive factor.