Bruno Giacomelli was a promising Formula 2 World Champion who came into F1 in the late 1970s. Driving for Ford-McLaren and later Alfa Romeo observers were impressed by how fast the Italian driver from Brescia was on the track. Giacomelli was joined at Alfa first by Andrea de Cesaris and later Mario Andretti at Alfa Romeo. On one occasion, at the 1980 Long Beach Grand Prix, Bruno established a sizable lead before retiring on lap 31 from electrical problems. At the end of his F1 driving career Giacomelli joined the ill-fated Life team that was noteworthy for using V12 engines.