It was the race that no driver seemingly wanted to win as the lead changed four times in just three laps at the end. Just five cars would take the chequered flag.
Riccardo Paletti crashed his Osella into the back of the Ferrari by Didier Pironi and burst into flames after start. Paletti death came less than three hours after he was freed from the wreckage of his burning car.
On Lap 19, Nelson Piquet collided with Eliseo Salazar while lapping him at the new Ostkurve chicane and an irate Piquet proceeded to attack the Chilean driver.
