No. Pironi was on pole and this was Gilles absolute last lap in his last tire set. He was flat out through all corners and read the evasive action of Mass the wrong way. Had he picked the other side, he'd lived and maybe even gotten pole. PSK: I agreed with Gilles' opinion towards Pironi. They had a deal and Pironi broke it. Which was especially hard for Gilles who stood by his word and let Scheckter win the title previously.