HistoryData
general1984

1984 Dallas Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1984

July 8, 1984

The 1984 Dallas Grand Prix was the only Formula One race held at Fair Park, notable for extreme heat, a crumbling track surface, and Nigel Mansell's dramatic collapse.

Quick Facts

Year
1984
Category
general

Key Facts

Date
July 8, 1984
Race distance
67 laps laps
Winner
Keke Rosberg (Williams-Honda)
Championship round
9th race of the 1984 F1 World Championship
Pole position
Nigel Mansell (Lotus-Renault)
Venue
Fair Park, Dallas, Texas

By the Numbers

81,984
Date
67laps
Race distance
9
Championship round

Location

Map of Dallas, United StatesMap of Dallas, United StatesDallas, United States

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1984 Formula One World Championship calendar included a street circuit race at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Exceptionally high summer temperatures and a poorly prepared track surface caused the circuit to deteriorate badly throughout the race weekend, creating treacherous conditions for drivers.

Event

On July 8, 1984, the 67-lap Dallas Grand Prix was run in severe heat on a disintegrating track. Nigel Mansell took pole and led much of the race before his Lotus-Renault suffered a gearbox failure near the finish. Keke Rosberg won in a Williams-Honda, with René Arnoux second and Elio de Angelis third.

Consequence

Nigel Mansell, after his gearbox failed with the finish line in sight, attempted to push his car over the line and collapsed from heat exhaustion, producing one of the race's most memorable images. The event was never repeated as a Formula One race, remaining the sole Dallas Grand Prix in the sport's history.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 198419841981198219831985198619871984 Winter Olympics — 14th edition of Winter Olympics, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia1984 European Competition for Women's Football — 1984 edition of the European Competition for Women's FootballEurovision Song Contest 1984 — 29th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1984 Formula One World Championship — sports seasonHandball at the 1984 Summer Olympics — overview of handball practiced at the 1984 Olympic Summer GamesBasketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics — international basketball tournament1984 AFC Asian Cup — international football competition1984 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1984-dallas-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-1984-1984