Few people would argue that Gilles Villeneuve was one of the true rain masters. Growing up in Quebec, Canada, Gilles drove countless miles in wintry conditions that taught him masterful car control. It was always apparent that he felt comfortable driving beyond the laws of physics that govern mere mortals. A wet October weekend in upstate New York echoes as perhaps the greatest demonstration of wet weather driving that F1 has ever known.
Teammate Scheckter recalls, "I scared myself rigid that day... Then I saw Gilles' time and... I still don't really understand how it was possible." Gilles had lapped Watkins Glen eleven seconds quicker than his second-placed Ferrari teammate!
Rain was falling on Sunday afternoon as the cars staged for the warm up lap and the field would start the race on treaded rain tires. Alan Jones sat on pole with Piquet to his left and Villeneuve directly behind him in third. The fiercely competitive Canadian was disappointed to be off pole position. When the field was turned loose, however, Gilles immediately made his move; in treacherous conditions he out braked Jones and Piquet to take the lead at the first corner! Only regular pit stops would drop the Ferrari driver briefly out of the lead, but Villeneuve was unstoppable. When the chequered flag signaled the end of the event, fully 49 seconds separated him from Rene Arnoux in second place!
