Date 19 June 1977 Weather Dry | Course length 4.025 km (2.501 mi) Driver Mario Andretti | |
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Location Scandinavian Raceway, Anderstorp Distance 72 laps, 289.8 km (180.1 mi) | ||
The 1977 Swedish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Scandinavian Raceway on 19 June 1977.
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The Swedish race was full of anticipation after Gunnar Nilsson's win last time out, but once again in qualifying, it was his teammate Mario Andretti leading the way from John Watson, with James Hunt heading the second row. At the start, again it was Watson who led into the first corner followed by Jody Scheckter, but soon Andretti passed both of them and opened up a lead. Watson and Scheckter battled for second until they collided, with Scheckter having to retire and Watson pitting for repairs. Hunt took second but he began to drop back and was passed by a charging Jacques Laffite, and then by his team-mate Jochen Mass. Andretti however, was dominant until he had to pit due to a fuel metering problem with two laps left, handing the lead to Laffite who went on to take his first ever win ahead of Mass and Reutemann.
Laffite's victory in his Gitanes sponsored Ligier-Matra was the first time that a French car with a French engine, backed by a French company, and driven by a French driver had won a Grand Prix.