1981 USA WEST GRAND PRIX - STARTING GRID
15 Mar 1981
Long Beach Street Circuit, United States
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Riccardo PatresePAT | Arrows Ford | 1:19.399 |
| 2 | 1 | Alan JonesJON | Williams Ford | 1:19.400 |
| 3 | 2 | Carlos ReutemannREU | Williams Ford | 1:20.140 |
| 4 | 5 | Nelson PiquetPIQ | Brabham Ford | 1:20.280 |
| 5 | 27 | Gilles VilleneuveVIL | Ferrari | 1:20.460 |
| 6 | 22 | Mario AndrettiAND | Alfa Romeo | 1:20.470 |
| 7 | 12 | Nigel MansellMAN | Lotus Ford | 1:20.570 |
| 8 | 3 | Eddie CheeverCHE | Tyrrell Ford | 1:20.640 |
| 9 | 23 | Bruno GiacomelliGIA | Alfa Romeo | 1:20.660 |
| 10 | 25 | Jean-Pierre JarierJAR | Ligier Matra | 1:20.780 |
| 11 | 28 | Didier PironiPIR | Ferrari | 1:20.900 |
| 12 | 26 | Jacques LaffiteLAF | Ligier Matra | 1:20.920 |
| 13 | 11 | Elio de AngelisDEA | Lotus Ford | 1:20.920 |
| 14 | 15 | Alain ProstPRO | Renault | 1:20.980 |
| 15 | 6 | Hector RebaqueREB | Brabham Ford | 1:21.000 |
| 16 | 20 | Keke RosbergROS | Fittipaldi Ford | 1:21.000 |
| 17 | 33 | Patrick TambayTAM | Theodore Ford | 1:21.290 |
| 18 | 21 | Chico SerraSER | Fittipaldi Ford | 1:21.400 |
| 19 | 14 | Marc SurerSUR | Ensign Ford | 1:21.520 |
| 20 | 16 | Rene ArnouxARN | Renault | 1:21.540 |
| 21 | 9 | Jan LammersLAM | ATS Ford | 1:21.750 |
| 22 | 8 | Andrea de CesarisDEC | McLaren Ford | 1:22.020 |
| 23 | 7 | John WatsonWAT | McLaren Ford | 1:22.180 |
| 24 | 32 | Beppe GabbianiGAB | Osella Hart | 1:22.210 |