Pace took the lead whilst Brambilla and Regazzoni duelled.
Jochen Mass and
John Watson collided – the German retired whilst Watson returned to the pits with a damaged nosecone.
Alan Jones also had to retire after a collision with
Jacques Laffite.
Arturo Merzario was out with a burnt out clutch. Pace's fiery start was now causing problems with brakes and cold tyres and he was having to drop back. Brambilla took the lead until lap six when he was passed by Lauda.
Tony Brise spun at the chicane and retired shortly after with piston failure.
Jody Scheckter was storming through the field to be in second place by lap nine. Brambilla's brakes were fading and he dropped down the order.
Jean-Pierre Jarier spun into the catch-fencing,
James Hunt retired with a broken gear-linkage.
Clay Regazzoni had risen to third, but then dived into the pits to change a blistered tyre. Lauda led Scheckter comfortably and the race settled down into a procession.
Carlos Pace had handling problems and dropped down the order when he lost third gear. By lap 49,
Ronnie Peterson crashed into the catch fencing, whilst Brambilla surrendered third place to change a blistered tyre, resuming but retiring with brake problems. Fittipaldi was also having brake problems, leaving him helpless against the assault of Regazzoni and
Tom Pryce as he dropped from fifth to seventh in the last six laps. == Classification ==