| start # | name | nat. | team | car | engine | tyres |
| 1 | Mario Andretti | USA |  | Martini Racing Team Lotus | Lotus 80 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 2 | Carlos Reutemann | RA |  | Lotus 79 |
| 3 | Didier Pironi | F |  | Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell 009 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 4 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | F | |
| 5 | Niki Lauda | A |  | Parmalat Racing Team | Brabham BT48 | Alfa Romeo 3.0 V12 | Goodyear |
| 6 | Nelson Piquet | BR |  |
| 7 | John Watson | GB |  | Marlboro Team McLaren | McLaren M28B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 8 | Patrick Tambay | F | | McLaren M28 |
| 9 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | D |  | ATS Wheels | ATS D2 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 11 | Jody Scheckter | ZA |  | Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC | Ferrari 312T4 | Ferrari 3.0 B12 | Michelin |
| 12 | Gilles Villeneuve | CDN |  |
| 14 | Emerson Fittipaldi | BR | | Fittipaldi Automotive | Fittipaldi F5A | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 15 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | F | | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS10 | Renault 1.5 V6T | Michelin |
| 16 | René Arnoux | F | | Renault RS01 |
| 17 | Jan Lammers | NL |  | Samson Shadow Racing Team | Shadow DN9 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 18 | Elio de Angelis | I |  | Interscope Shadow Racing Team | Shadow DN9 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 20 | James Hunt | GB | | Olympus Cameras Wolf Racing | Wolf WR7 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 22 | Derek Daly | IRL |  | Team Ensign | Ensign N177 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 24 | Arturo Merzario | I | | Team Merzario | Merzario A2 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 25 | Patrick Depailler | F | | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS11 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 26 | Jacques Laffite | F | |
| 27 | Alan Jones | AUS |  | Albilad-Saudia Racing Team | Williams FW07 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 28 | Clay Regazzoni | CH |  |
| 29 | Riccardo Patrese | I | | Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team | Arrows A1B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 30 | Jochen Mass | D | |
| 31 | Hector Rebaque | MEX |  | Team Rebaque | Lotus 79 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
| 36 | Gianfranco Brancatelli | I | | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | Kauhsen WK | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | Goodyear |
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