Andretti takes French G.P.

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 32

Andretti takes French G.P.

NZPA Dijon, France

The American driver, Mario Andretti, won the French Grand Prix at Dijon because he did not run out of fuel — Britain’s John Watson lost it because he did. Andretti and his black and gold Lotus stalked Watson’s maroon Brabham from near the start of the 80-lap race, but seemed just short of the acceleration needed to overtake. Watson went into the last lap with a one-second lead, and seemed to have the race sewn up. But there was sweet revenge for Andretti, who lost the Swedish Grand Prix a fortnight ago because he ran out of petrol. The world champion,

James Hunt, of Britain, took third place in a McLaren, a long way behind the two leaders.

Andretti’s team-mate, Gunnar Nilsson, of Sweden, gave Lotus an added bonus by filling fourth place in front of Niki Lauda of Austria and the Argentinian, Carlos Reutemann, in Italian Ferraris. Lauda’s fifth place pushed him into the lead in the world drivers’ championship table with 33 points, one ahead of South Africa’s Jody Scheckter and Andretti.

Among nine drivers who failed to complete the race was Allan Jones, of Australia, driving a Shadow, who retired in the sixtieth lap because of engine failure.