Petitclerc won in 1min 52.93secs with Australians Louise Sauvage and Eliza Stankovic taking silver and bronze.
Wales' multiple Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson was fourth in 1:55.71.
England's Deborah Brennan and Rachel Potter were sixth and seventh respectively.
Grey-Thompson said that despite missing out on a medal she was pleased with the result.
"I'm just so happy to have gone fast. Fourth was good enough for me," she said.
"I think I was really, really stressed out. It was probably the best race I've done in 18 months or so.
"It was just nice to be back," added Thompson, who gave birth to her first child earlier this year.