| start # | name | nat. | team | car | engine | tyres |
| 1 | James Hunt | GB |  | Marlboro Team McLaren | McLaren M26 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 2 | Jochen Mass | D |  |
| 3 | Ronnie Peterson | S |  | Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell P34 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 4 | Patrick Depailler | F |  |
| 5 | Mario Andretti | USA |  | John Player Team Lotus | Lotus 78 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 6 | Gunnar Nilsson | S | |
| 7 | John Watson | GB | | Martini Racing | Brabham BT45B | Alfa Romeo 3.0 F12 | Goodyear |
| 8 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | D | |
| 9 | Alex Ribeiro | BR |  | Hollywood March Racing | March 761B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 10 | Ian Scheckter | ZA |  | Team Rothmans International | March 761B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 11 | Niki Lauda | A |  | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari 312T2 | Ferrari 3.0 F12 | Goodyear |
| 12 | Carlos Reutemann | RA |  |
| 15 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | F | | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS01 | Renault 1.5 V6T | Michelin |
| 16 | Riccardo Patrese | I |  | Shadow Racing Team | Shadow DN8 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 17 | Alan Jones | AUS |  |
| 18 | Vern Schuppan | AUS | | Team Surtees | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 19 | Vittorio Brambilla | I | | Beta Team Surtees | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 20 | Jody Scheckter | ZA | | Walter Wolf Racing | Wolf WR1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 22 | Clay Regazzoni | CH |  | Team Tissot Ensign with Castrol | Ensign N177 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 23 | Patrick Tambay | F | | Theodore Racing Hong Kong | Ensign N177 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 24 | Rupert Keegan | GB | | Penthouse Rizla Racing | Hesketh 308E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 26 | Jacques Laffite | F | | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS7 | Matra 3.0 V12 | Goodyear |
| 27 | Patrick Neve | B |  | Williams Grand Prix Engineering | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 28 | Emerson Fittipaldi | BR | | Copersucar-Fittipaldi | Fittipaldi F5 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 30 | Brett Lunger | USA | | Chesterfield Racing | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 31 | David Purley | GB | | LEC Refrigeration Racing | LEC CRP1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 32 | Mikko Kozarowitsky | FIN |  | RAM Racing/F & S Properties | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 33 | Andy Sutcliffe | GB | | RAM Racing | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 34 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | F | | ATS Racing Team | Penske PC4 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 35 | Guy Edwards | GB | | Rotary Watches Stanley BRM | BRM P207 | BRM 3.0 V12 | Goodyear |
| 36 | Emilio de Villota | E |  | Iberia Airlines | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 37 | Arturo Merzario | I | | Team Merzario | March 761B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 38 | Brian Henton | GB | | British Formula One Racing Team | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 40 | Gilles Villeneuve | CDN |  | Marlboro Team McLaren | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 44 | Tony Trimmer | GB | | Melchester Racing | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 45 | Brian McGuire | AUS | | Brian McGuire | McGuire BM1 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
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