United States Grand Prix West 1982 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Niki Lauda's return to Formula 1 after two years in retirement bore immediate fruit with victory at Long Beach, demonstrating that the Austrian's tactical brilliance remained undiminished. Racing for Ron Dennis's rebuilt McLaren team, Lauda exploited attrition among faster turbocharged rivals to secure a methodical win that showcased his ability to manage races rather than dominate them. The victory marked the beginning of McLaren's resurgence under Dennis's leadership and proved that Lauda's decision to un-retire had been well-founded.

Keke Rosberg finished second for Williams despite the team's naturally aspirated FW07C being outpaced by turbocharged machinery. Riccardo Patrese completed the podium for Brabham, giving Bernie Ecclestone's team crucial points amid the FISA-FOCA political warfare. The race proceeded without FOCA team boycotts, suggesting that a fragile peace might be emerging, though tensions would soon escalate dramatically at Imola.