| 1979 French Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 8 of 15 in the1979 Formula One season | |||
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | July 1, 1979 | ||
| Location | Dijon | ||
| Course length | 3.801 km (2.361 miles) | ||
| Distance | 80 laps, 304.08 km (188.88 miles) | ||
| Weather | Dry | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Renault | ||
| Time | 1:07.19 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |  René Arnoux | Renault | |
| Time | 1:09.16 on lap 71 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Renault | ||
| Second | Ferrari | ||
| Third | Renault | ||
Lap leaders | |||
The1979 French Grand Prix was aFormula One motor race held on 1 July 1979 atDijon-Prenois nearDijon,France.
It marked not just the first victory of a forced-induction car in Formula One since theAlfa Romeo 159's victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in1951, but also the first victory of a turbocharged car in Formula One, with Renault overcoming the reliability problems that had initially plagued their car. ForJean-Pierre Jabouille it was a victory on home soil, driving a French car (Renault), on French tyres (Michelin), powered by a French engine (Renault), burning French fuel (Elf). Jabouille was the first Frenchman to win the French Grand Prix sinceJean-Pierre Wimille in1948.
The race featured one of the fiercest battles ever for second place, between Ferrari driverGilles Villeneuve and Renault driverRené Arnoux, who on several occasions during the final laps touched wheels and swapped positions. The fight is often cited as one of the most memorable pieces of racing in Formula One.[1] Villeneuve, who passed the finish line less than a quarter of a second ahead of Arnoux, later described the occasion as "my best memory of Grand Prix racing".[2]
| Pos. | Driver | Constructor | Time | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault | 1:07,19 | 1 |
| 2 | René Arnoux | Renault | 1:07,45 | 2 |
| 3 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 1:07,65 | 3 |
| 4 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1:08,13 | 4 |
| 5 | Jody Scheckter | Ferrari | 1:08,15 | 5 |
| 6 | Niki Lauda | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | 1:08,20 | 6 |
| 7 | Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | 1:08,23 | 7 |
| 8 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Ford | 1:08,55 | 8 |
| 9 | Clay Regazzoni | Williams-Ford | 1:08,65 | 9 |
| 10 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Tyrrell-Ford | 1:08,80 | 10 |
| 11 | Didier Pironi | Tyrrell-Ford | 1:08,95 | 11 |
| 12 | Mario Andretti | Lotus-Ford | 1:09,35 | 12 |
| 13 | Carlos Reutemann | Lotus-Ford | 1:09,36 | 13 |
| 14 | Jacky Ickx | Ligier-Ford | 1:09,68 | 14 |
| 15 | John Watson | McLaren-Ford | 1:09,97 | 15 |
| 16 | Keke Rosberg | Wolf-Ford | 1:10,15 | 16 |
| 17 | Bruno Giacomelli | Alfa Romeo | 1:10,59 | 17 |
| 18 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Fittipaldi-Ford | 1:10,61 | 18 |
| 19 | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows-Ford | 1:10,70 | 19 |
| 20 | Patrick Tambay | McLaren-Ford | 1:10,92 | 20 |
| 21 | Jan Lammers | Shadow-Ford | 1:11,14 | 21 |
| 22 | Jochen Mass | Arrows-Ford | 1:11,40 | 22 |
| 23 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | ATS-Ford | 1:11,75 | DNS |
| 24 | Héctor Rebaque | Lotus-Ford | 1:11,97 | 23 |
| 25 | Elio de Angelis | Shadow-Ford | 1:12,23 | 24 |
| DNQ | Patrick Gaillard | Ensign-Ford | 1:13,00 | — |
| DNQ | Arturo Merzario | Merzario-Ford | 1:14,95 | — |
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| Previous race: 1979 Monaco Grand Prix | FIA Formula One World Championship 1979 season | Next race: 1979 British Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1978 French Grand Prix | French Grand Prix | Next race: 1980 French Grand Prix |
