Poleman Nojiri and Lawson, who started third, went side-by-side through the Turn 1 and 2 right-handers on the opening lap of Sunday’s race, with Lawson attempting to go around the outside of his Team Mugen colleague.
But Nojiri edged Lawson out wide and on to the kerb, causing Lawson to lose control and spin into the path of the chasing pack, whereupon he was involved in a multi-car collision with Yuhi Sekiguchi, Tadasuke Makino and Nobuharu Matsushita.
