On This Day: 1982 - Lauda Wins First Race in 5 Years

On this day in 1982, Niki Lauda raced his 3rd race on his comeback to F1 at the United States Grand Prix West.

Lauda returned to an F1 car at the start of 1982 with McLaren. After the first two races where he came fourth in one and retired in another, in races both won by Alain Prost, Lauda headed to the Long Beach Grand Prix looking for a win.

Lauda, qualified for the race in second, with Andrea de Cesaris qualifying at the top of the grid. De Cesaris’s was, at the time, the youngest driver to achieve pole position.

By the end of the first lap, de Cesaris was two seconds ahead of the field. However, by lap 15, Lauda had the momentum to overtake the Italian.

Lauda’s lead kept growing, and on lap 34, de Cesaris crashed out after losing his concentration. With de Cesaris crashing out, Lauda had almost a minute advantage over Keke Rosberg.

When the chequered flag came, Lauda came in nearly 15 seconds ahead of Rosberg, who took second in his Williams. With Gilles Villeneuve, who originally finished third, disqualified after the race Riccardo Patrese came third, over a minute back. Outside of the podium, just one other rider finished on the lead lap.

Lauda’s victory was his 18th of his career and his first for McLaren. Lauda won one more race during the 1982 season at the British Grand Prix.