1996 IndyCar Rio 400

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.

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 mi / 398.976 km
Pole position
Driver	Alex Zanardi (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
Time	167.084 mph
Fastest lap
Driver	Gil de Ferran (Jim Hall)
Time	167.3 mph (on lap of 133)
Podium
First	André Ribeiro (Tasman Motorsports)
Second	Al Unser Jr. (Penske Racing)
Third	Scott Pruett (Patrick Racing)

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. 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

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

Race

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

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. Maurício 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