Although there were still some outstanding battles over protests, the World Championship decider in Las Vegas as a straight fight between Keke Rosberg and John Watson and with nine points between them Watson's only hope was that Keke would fail to finish and he would win. This would give him the title because Rosberg had won only a single race.

Ferrari decided to keep Mario Andretti for a second race while Jacques Laffite announced that he was moving to Williams in 1983. The entry was the same as at Monza but this time Alain Prost and René Arnoux were on the front row in their Renaults. Michele Alboreto was a surprising third for Tyrrell ahead of Eddie Cheever's Talbot Ligier and the Brabham-BMW of Riccardo Patrese. Rosberg was fifth with Andretti's Ferrari alongside and Patrick Tambay behind them, ahead of Watson. The top 10 was completed by Derek Warwick in the new Toleman-Hart TG183.

On race day it was announced that Tambay would not be starting because of his back problems.

At the start the two Renaults took off in the lead with Prost leading Arnoux, Alboreto and Patrese. Cheever, Andretti, Rosberg and Piquet followed. on the second lap Arnoux took the lead but Prost was back ahead by lap 15 while Arnoux soon disappeared with an engine failure. On lap 52 Prost fell behind Alboreto, the Renault vibrating badly. A Tyrrell was leading a Grand Prix for the first time in years. On lap 56 Watson moved to second but he was a long way behind and as Rosberg was running in fifth place the McLaren driver's hopes of the title were over. As Prost faded back so Cheever moved to third.

Alboreto duly won his first Formula 1 triumph, leading home Watson, Cheever, Prost, Rosberg and Derek Daly in the second Williams.