Round 1 · 1981
United States Grand Prix West
Long Beach, USA · Sun 15 Mar · 00:00 UTC
Race
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | Time / Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Jones | Williams | 2 | 1:50:41.330 | 9 |
| 2 | Carlos Reutemann | Williams | 3 | +9.190 | 6 |
| 3 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | 4 | +34.920 | 4 |
| 4 | Mario Andretti | Alfa Romeo | 6 | +49.310 | 3 |
| 5 | Eddie Cheever | Tyrrell | 8 | +1:06.700 | 2 |
| 6 | Patrick Tambay | Theodore | 17 | +1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | Chico Serra | Fittipaldi | 18 | +2 Laps | |
| 8 | René Arnoux | Renault | 20 | +3 Laps | |
| — | Marc Surer | Ensign | 19 | Fuel system | |
| — | Didier Pironi | Ferrari | 11 | Fuel system | |
| — | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Ligier | 10 | Fuel pump | |
| — | Hector Rebaque | Brabham | 15 | Accident | |
| — | Bruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 9 | Collision | |
| — | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | 12 | Collision | |
| — | Keke Rosberg | Fittipaldi | 16 | Engine | |
| — | Jan Lammers | ATS | 21 | Collision | |
| — | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows | 1 | Fuel system | |
| — | Beppe Gabbiani | Osella | 24 | Accident | |
| — | Nigel Mansell | Lotus-Borgward | 7 | Accident | |
| — | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 5 | Halfshaft | |
| — | John Watson | McLaren | 23 | Brakes | |
| — | Elio de Angelis | Lotus-Borgward | 13 | Accident | |
| — | Alain Prost | Renault | 14 | Collision | |
| — | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren | 22 | Collision |