Meeker led away from top spot but faced an early challenge from Charles Nearburg, as the Williams FW07C driver chased the Tyrrell 009 racer around the 5.5km track. Nearburg dived for the lead into Turn 1 on the second lap and wrestled away top spot as the pair came close to rubbing wheels through the downhill right-hander at Turn 2, with Meeker slotting into second. But Nearburg’s advantage lasted only half a lap as Meeker emerged ahead after the duo scrapped through the stadium section, emerging ahead to re-take a lead that he would not relinquish.

Meeker stretched his lead through the rest of the race before proceedings were neutralised in the closing stages after several cars stopped trackside, necessitating the deployment of the safety car. The race finished behind the safety car, with Meeker greeting the chequered flag ahead of Nearburg, while Lotus 91 driver Steve Brooks maintained third spot to take a podium finish.

Mike Cantillon provided most of the action as he carved his way through the pack in the wake of an error in qualifying.

Cantillon started from 21st on the grid but was quickly up into the top 10 and eventually climbed his way to fourth spot in the Williams FW08. Carlos de Quesada (McLaren M26) claimed fifth position, ahead of Danny Baker (McLaren M23), Gray Gregory (March 761) and Kirt Bennett (Shadow DN5). Bud Moeller climbed from 14th on the grid to ninth aboard his Williams FW08 while Mark Hazell (Williams FW08C) rounded out the top 10.

Race 2 from the Circuit of the Americas, of length 20 minutes plus 1 lap, is scheduled for Sunday at 08:30 local time.