Jean-Pierre Jabouille in the Renault RS10 turbocharged Gordini twin-turbo 1.5-litre V6 at the 1979 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Jabouille had won with this car earlier in the year in France. The Renault RS10 was developed to compete in the 1979 Formula One season and became the first turbocharged F1 car to win a Grand Prix. This changed the framework of F1 as this car spurred the development of the 1,300 bhp (970 kW) turbocharged cars of the 1980s and rang the death knell for normally aspirated engines. This car, along with its predecessor, the Renault RS01, was one of the most revolutionary Grand Prix cars of all time. Through the final eight races of the 1979 season the RS10 scored five poles and the memorable home win at the 1979 French Grand Prix at Dijon. Jabouille and René Arnoux both drove the car that year. Arnoux finished second at the British Grand Prix and at Watkins Glen.
Mechanics work on the Ferrari 312T2B of Carlos Reutemann on pit road at Watkins Glen at the 1977 United States Grand Prix. Interesting that they would perform this work on pit road instead of in the Kendall Technical Center. What a change from the elaborate garage complex that the Formula One teams work from today. Reutemann would start and finish sixth in this race. The 312T2B model was good enough to win the 1977 Drivers' Championship for Niki Lauda, who won more through the car's reliability than outright speed. He took 3 wins, while Reutemann won once. The Constructors' Championship was also secured by Ferrari for a third successive season.
A look at the rear gear box casing of Niki Lauda's Brabham BT46 Alfa powered Formula One car on pit road at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1978. The Brabham BT45 was an overweight and bulky car with a powerful Alfa flat-12 engine. In Formula One form in 1978 it delivered about 520 bhp at 12,000 rpm, about 50 bhp more than the Cosworth DFV engines used by most teams. However, the power came at the expense of greater size, increased fuel consumption and about 40 kg more weight. The car used a revised and lighter version of the 6-speed gearbox, designed for the BT45B. Brabham designed the gearbox casing, which was cast by Alfa Romeo and used Hewland gears. Lauda would start fifth but retire due to an engine issue on lap 28 of the 59-lap race.