4/2/1979

Record updated

Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos, won by Jacques Laffite in a Ligier.

Jacques Laffite won the Brazilian Grand Prix on the 4.94 mile Interlagos circuit as the Ligier team dominated for the second straight race. This time the all Ligier front row had Laffite on the pole and Patrick Depailler alongside. As the field rolled off, Carlos Reutemann's Lotus would not start. He was push started after the entire field left, and weaved back through to re-take his 3rd spot on the grid. Lafitte led from the green, Depailler quickly regained second from Reutemann, and the Ligiers easily pulled away. Lafitte beat Depailler by 5.2 seconds with Reutemann another 39 seconds back in third. A protest was filed against Reutemann, but his finish was left to stand on the grounds that a penalty should have been imposed prior to the start of the race.