For some reason Villeneuve made a split second decision to overtake Jochen Mass on the right in qualifying when it was agreed general practice to overtake on the racing line which would have been to the left of the March. His seat was ripped out ejecting him upwards from the cockpit and his helmet wasn't properly secured coming off before he landed onto a barrier.
Slowing down Mass said that he felt guilty at what happened but he did everything right in coming to the right spotting Villeneuve coming at breakneck speed under pressure trying to qualify better than his teammate Pironi
