On your firewall is a dual ballast resistor, passenger side. One side feeds the ECU, the other feeds the coil. But, during cranking, power goes through both to the coil. so if one side is bad, then during cranking, the ignition does nothing, but as soon as you release the key, Bam it wants to fire. If conditions in the intake are agreeable, it will light off and you can drive away; just don't shut it off.
The proof is that when you jump 12v power to the coil positive, if it "pops off" and runs, Badaboom install a new Ballast and that's that.
Do not drive away with the power-jumper still connected; the Coil doesn't mind full battery voltage during cranking, but, on battery voltage it will run hot and eventually burn itself out. No, IDK how long is safe. It could be a mile or ten or 100, IDK.
Happy HotRodding