On This Day

Villeneuve scores a Grand Slam in the U.S.

Sam Hall Wednesday 8 April 2020 18:10

Villeneuve scores a Grand Slam in the U.S.

Gilles Villeneuve scored his only grand slam on this day in 1979, winning the United States West Grand Prix at Long Beach having taken both pole and the fastest lap.

Victory at Long Beach meant that Villeneuve had secured back-to-back for the first time in his Formula 1 career.

Having taken his first ever victory at the end of the 1978 season, winning in his native Canada on the circuit that would later bear his name, Villeneuve had opened the 1979 season with a DNF and a fifth place.

However, races at Kyalami and Long Beach would put his season back on track, the Canadian taking victory on each occasion.

Gilles Villeneuve celebrates alongside teammate Jody Scheckter and Alan Jones

Possibly the greatest drive of his career, Villeneuve won by over half a minute from teammate and the eventual champion, Jody Scheckter.

For Ferrari, this was a third consecutive triumph in the United States after victories at Long Beach and Watkins Glen through Carlos Reutemann in 1978.

Latest News

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton cancels plans as career update issued

34 minutes ago

Miami Grand Prix

F1 2025 Miami Grand Prix weather forecast - Latest as thundershowers hit South Florida

1 hour ago

Miami Grand Prix

Red Bull reveal stunning new look ahead of Miami Grand Prix

2 hours ago

F1 Legends

Ayrton Senna helmet fetches record price as F1 world pays tribute to death of legend

Today 12:57

Cadillac F1

Schumacher F1 lifeline emerges as Cadillac set for 'talks'

Today 11:57

Christian Horner

Christian Horner blamed for Adrian Newey Red Bull exit

Today 10:57

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2025

GP AUSTRALIA 14 - 16 Mar

GP BAHRAIN 11 - 13 Apr

Oscar Piastri

GP SAUDI ARABIA 18 - 20 Apr

Oscar Piastri

GP USA 2 - 4 May

GP ITALY 16 - 18 May

GP MONACO 23 - 23 May

GP SPAIN 30 May - 1 Jun

GP CANADA 13 - 15 Jun

GP AUSTRIA 27 - 27 Jun

Complete kalender 2025

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

Villeneuve scores a Grand Slam in the U.S.

Villeneuve scores a Grand Slam in the U.S.