United States Grand Prix West 1983 - Race Schedule and Countdown

John Watson delivered a masterclass at Long Beach, leading a McLaren 1-2 with Niki Lauda. The Northern Irishman's smooth driving style suited the concrete-lined street circuit perfectly, threading the naturally aspirated MP4/1B through traffic with precision. Lauda's second place demonstrated McLaren's competitive pace despite their Cosworth engine's power disadvantage compared to turbo rivals.

René Arnoux completed the podium for Ferrari, keeping the Scuderia in early championship contention. The race proved that street circuits could neutralize the turbo cars' power advantage, with handling and reliability becoming decisive factors. Watson's victory was McLaren's final win before they would embrace turbocharged power, marking the end of an era for the naturally aspirated Cosworth DFV.