Osella entered a two-man team, but neither of their regular drivers, Nicola Larini and Piercarlo Ghinzani, drove.
Pierre-Henri Raphanel attended for Coloni, although he had been replaced mid season by Bertaggia, who had been poached for this event by Osella.
Finally, EuroBrun was represented by Claudio Langes, who had signed for the team for 1990, replaced Gregor Foitek and Oscar Larrauri who had driven in 1989.
De Cesaris would face Pérez-Sala in the first semi-final in a hard to predict match up, which the Spaniard won.
His team mate Pierluigi Martini also won through against Enrico Bertaggia, to create an all-Minardi final.