1996 IndyCar Rio 400

Brazil   1996 Rio 400
Race details
Race 2 of 16 in the 1996 IndyCar season
Date March 17, 1996
Official name IndyCar Rio 400
Location Emerson Fittipaldi Speedway, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Course Permanent racing facility
1.864 mi / 3.000 km
Distance 133 laps, 247.912 mph mi / 398.976 km/h km
Pole position
Driver Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Time 167.084 mph
Fastest lap
Driver Brazil Gil de Ferran Jim Hall
Time 167.3 mph (on lap of 133)
Podium
First Brazil André Ribeiro Tasman Motorsports
Second United States Al Unser, Jr. Penske Racing
Third United States Scott Pruett Patrick Racing

The 1996 Rio 400 was a CART race which happened at the Emerson Fittipaldi Speedway. It happened on March 17, 1996. It was the 2nd round of the 1996 IndyCar season.

Starting grid

  1. Alex Zanardi
  2. Jimmy Vasser
  3. André Ribeiro
  4. Greg Moore
  5. Parker Johnstone
  6. Bobby Rahal
  7. Gil de Ferran
  8. Adrian Fernandez
  9. Mauricio Gugelmin
  10. Scott Pruett
  11. Robby Gordon
  12. Al Unser, Jr.
  13. Emerson Fittipaldi
  14. Roberto Moreno
  15. Michael Andretti
  16. Bryan Herta
  17. Carlos Guerrero
  18. Mark Blundell
  19. Eddie Lawson
  20. Hiro Matsushita
  21. Stefan Johansson
  22. Jeff Krosnoff
  23. Marco Greco
  24. Juan Manuel Fangio II
  25. Paul Tracy
  26. Raul Boesel
  27. Christian Fittipaldi

Did not start

  1. Scott Goodyear Wrecked during practice; sidelined for most of the season

Race

Lap 3

First full course caution was out, as Juan Manuel Fangio II had slowed down. Green flag came out on lap 5.

Lap 11

Second full course caution came out, as Mark Blundell had a serious crash in turn 4. He suffered a broken foot.

Lap 12

Top 6: Alex Zanardi, Greg Moore, André Ribeiro, Gil de Ferran, Jimmy Vasser and Bobby Rahal. On lap 23, green flag came out once again.

Lap 40

Third full course caution was out, as Adrian Fernandez spun and crashed in turn 1. Green flag came out on lap 44.

Lap 52

Top 6: Zanardi, Moore, Ribeiro, Robby Gordon, de Ferran and Al Unser, Jr.

Some laps later

Fourth full course caution. Problems for Emerson Fittipaldi, as he slowed down. Green flag came out on lap 64.

Lap 80

Gil de Ferran runs out of fuel. Fifth full course caution.

Lap 83

Top 6: Moore, Michael Andretti, Gordon, Rahal, Raul Boesel and Parker Johnstone. Green flag came out on lap 91.

Lap 96

Sixth full course caution as Carlos Guerrero had an expired engine. Green flag came out on lap 104.

Lap 113

Top 6: Moore, Ribeiro, Gordon, Scott Pruett, Unser, Jr. and Rahal.

Lap 115

Greg Moore retires with suspension problems. Ribeiro leads. Seventh full course caution. Few laps later, restart came out.

Lap 124

Eighth and last full course caution of the race as Robby Gordon hits the wall in turn 1. Green flag came out on lap 129.

Final results

Top 12

  1. André Ribeiro 133 laps
  2. Al Unser, Jr. +2.14 seconds
  3. Scott Pruett
  4. Alex Zanardi
  5. Christian Fittipaldi
  6. Bobby Rahal
  7. Raul Boesel
  8. Jimmy Vasser +1
  9. Roberto Moreno +1
  10. Gil de Ferran +2
  11. Emerson Fittipaldi +2
  12. Marco Greco +2

Drivers who did not complete the race

  1. Robby Gordon +9 Contact
  2. Parker Johnstone +15 Fuel
  3. Greg Moore +17 Contact
  4. Paul Tracy +31 Contact w/ Greco
  5. Carlos Guerrero +38 Engine
  6. Eddie Lawson +46 Broken drive line
  7. Michael Andretti +47 Engine
  8. Stefan Johansson +72 Cooling
  9. Hiro Matsushita +80 Header
  10. Mauricio Gugelmin +84 Suspension
  11. Jeff Krosnoff +96 Engine
  12. Mark Blundell +123 Contact

Point standings

After 2 of 16 races

  1. Scott Pruett 26 points
  2. Jimmy Vasser 25 points
  3. Al Unser, Jr. 21 points
  4. André Ribeiro 20 points
  5. Gil de Ferran 19 points
  6. Bobby Rahal 18 points
Previous race:
1996 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami
IndyCar World Series
1996 season
Next race:
1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia

Previous race:
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IndyCar Rio 400 Next race:
1997 Hollywood Rio 400k