1981 · Round 1 · Qualifying USA West Grand Prix
Streets of Long Beach, United States
Sunday, March 15, 1981
Streets of Long Beach, United States
Sunday, March 15, 1981
Pole position
PAT
1:19.399
Pole margin
+0.001
to JON
Top-ten spread
+1.381
P1 to JAR
Entries
24
Fastest time from each qualifying segment; purple marks the segment best
| Pos | Driver | Best | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | PATArrows · Arrows A3B ~ Arrows A3 | 1:19.399 | — | — |
| 02 | JONWilliams · Williams FW07C Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:19.400 | +0.001 | — |
| 03 | REUWilliams · Williams FW07C Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:20.140 | +0.741 | — |
| 04 | PIQBrabham · Brabham BT49C · Cosworth | 1:20.280 | +0.881 | — |
| 05 | VILFerrari · Ferrari 126CK | 1:20.460 | +1.061 | — |
| 06 | ANDAlfa Romeo (Autodelta) · Alfa Romeo 179B ~ Alfa Romeo 179C | 1:20.470 | +1.071 | — |
| 07 | MANTeam Lotus · Lotus 81 Cosworth ~ Lotus 87 Cosworth ~ Lotus 88 Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:20.570 | +1.171 | — |
| 08 | CHETyrrell · Tyrrell 011 Cosworth ~ Tyrrell 010 · Cosworth | 1:20.640 | +1.241 | — |
| 09 | GIAAlfa Romeo (Autodelta) · Alfa Romeo 179B ~ Alfa Romeo 179C | 1:20.660 | +1.261 | — |
| 10 | JARLigier · Ligier JS17 · Matra | 1:20.780 | +1.381 | — |
| 11 | PIRFerrari · Ferrari 126CK | 1:20.900 | +1.501 | — |
| 12 | LAFLigier · Ligier JS17 · Matra | 1:20.920 | +1.521 | — |
| 13 | DEATeam Lotus · Lotus 81 Cosworth ~ Lotus 87 Cosworth ~ Lotus 88 Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:20.920 | +1.521 | — |
| 14 | PROEquipe Renault · Renault RE20B ~ Renault RE30 · Gordini | 1:20.980 | +1.581 | — |
| 15 | REBBrabham · Brabham BT49C · Cosworth | 1:21.000 | +1.601 | — |
| 16 | ROSFittipaldi · Fittipaldi F8C Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:21.000 | +1.601 | — |
| 17 | TAMTheodore · Theodore TY01 · Cosworth | 1:21.290 | +1.891 | — |
| 18 | SERFittipaldi · Fittipaldi F8C Cosworth · Cosworth | 1:21.400 | +2.001 | — |
| 19 | SUREnsign · Ensign N180B · Cosworth | 1:21.520 | +2.121 | — |
| 20 | ARNEquipe Renault · Renault RE20B ~ Renault RE30 · Gordini | 1:21.540 | +2.141 | — |
| 21 | LAMATS (Germany) · D4 HGS1 · Cosworth | 1:21.750 | +2.351 | — |
| 22 | DECMcLaren · McLaren MP4-1 ~ McLaren M29C ~ McLaren M29F · Cosworth | 1:22.020 | +2.621 | — |
| 23 | WATMcLaren · McLaren MP4-1 ~ McLaren M29C ~ McLaren M29F · Cosworth | 1:22.180 | +2.781 | — |
| 24 | GABOsella · Osella FA1B ~ Osella FA1C · Cosworth | 1:22.210 | +2.811 | — |