The European part of the Formula One season opened at Imola on May 3, and the well-appointed and interesting Autodromo Dino Ferrari saw Nigel Mansell win almost unchallenged in the absence of his team-mate, and after the World Champion refired.
A full field of 27 entries was ready to go, which meant qualifying was going to have to eliminate one of the hopefuls. As it turned out, however, it was one of the stars that was eliminated, through no fault of his own, so the slowest of the new boys was able to take part.
With Goodyear supplying tyres to everyone this year, and all tyres being to a standard specification for the particular event, the whole tyre situation has had to be something of a compromise, although a front-running Honda-powered car needs different rubber to a back-running Cosworth DFZ-powered one. The Imola circuit is fast, with some highspeed corners and curves, and it was not long before rear tyres were showing signs of distress on the fast cars.
