There was only a week between the Mexican Grand Prix and the new United States GP on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona. In that time the March team was acquired by its major sponsor Leyton House. The weather in Arizona was very hot and the circuit less than spectacular and there were minimal crowds. Qualifying offered few surprises with Ayrton Senna on pole from his McLaren-Honda team mate Alain Prost with Sandro Nannini third in his Benetton and Nigel Mansell (Ferrari) fourth. Martin Brundle (Brabham) was fifth ahead of Alex Caffi (Scuderia Italia), Stefano Modena (Brabham) and Berger with the top 10 being rounded off by Michele Alboreto's Tyrrell and Derek Warwick's Arrows. The two Williams-Renaults were struggling with Riccardo Patrese 14th and Thierry Boutsen 16th while Johnny Herbert's problems at Benetton continued as he only just scraped onto the grid in 25th position.

In the race Senna went into the lead from Prost, Nannini and Mansell. Sandro soon dropped back when he went up an escape road, the Italian struggling with the Benetton's poor handling. Mansell ran in third with Modena moving to fourth ahead of Caffi and Brundle. Mansell disappeared at half distance with gearbox trouble and Senna went out with electronic trouble so Prost found himself ahead of Caffi and Berger (who had gained from the retirements of both Brabhams). Caffi had to pit for new Pirellis but he was on his way back up to the front when his own team mate Andrea de Cesaris took him off while being lapped. Berger also disappeared in the closing laps and so second place went to Patrese with Eddie Cheever (Arrows) third, Christian Danner fourth in his Rial, Herbert fifth in his Benetton and Boutsen sixth.