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

Brazil 1996 Rio 400
Race details
Race 2 of 16 in the 1996 IndyCar season
DateMarch 17, 1996
Official nameIndyCar Rio 400
LocationEmerson Fittipaldi Speedway, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.864 mi / 3.000 km
Distance133 laps
247.912 mi / 398.976 km
Pole position
DriverAlex Zanardi (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
Time167.084 mph
Fastest lap
DriverGil de Ferran (Jim Hall)
Time167.3 mph (on lap of 133)
Podium
FirstAndré Ribeiro (Tasman Motorsports)
SecondAl Unser Jr. (Penske Racing)
ThirdScott Pruett (Patrick Racing)

Starting grid edit

  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. Maurício 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 edit

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

Race edit

On lap 11, Mark Blundell had a serious crash in turn 4, suffering a broken foot. The race continued under yellow caution flags until lap 23, with Alex Zanardi leading from Greg Moore and André Ribeiro. De Ferran ran out of fuel on lap 80. Moore had taken the lead, but retired with suspension problems on lap 115. Ribeiro eventually won from Al Unser Jr. and Scott Pruett.

Final results edit

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 edit

  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. Maurício Gugelmin +84 Suspension
  11. Jeff Krosnoff +96 Engine
  12. Mark Blundell +123 Contact

Point standings edit

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:
none
IndyCar Rio 400 Next race:
1997 Hollywood Rio 400k