June 13, 1982
Just five weeks after Gilles Villeneuve had a fatal crash during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, the Canadian Grand Prix was the scene of the second fatality in Formula One that year. 24 year old Italian driver, Riccardo Paletti, was killed when he crashed his Osella, into the rear of the stalled Ferrari, of pole sitter Didier Pironi on the starting grid. The Osella's nose was crushed in, severely trapping Paletti in the car. Sid Watkins, the FIA's head doctor, was quickly on the scene to stabilise and assist Paletti. As Watkins climbed over the wreckage of the Osella, the fuel tank ignited, enveloping the car in a wall of fire. When the fire was finally put out, the injured Paletti was without a pulse. It took the rescue workers 25 minutes to cut him out safely from his wrecked car. He was flown by a medical helicopter to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he died soon after arriving. It was only his second Formula One start.
Nelson Piquet of Brazil won the race. His BMW-powered Brabham had 100–130 °C (220–280 °F) oil leaking around the bulkhead at the front of the car and the pedals, badly burning his feet for 60 laps. Riccardo Patrese finished second, with John Watson third.
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