1996 IndyCar Rio 400
Motor car race
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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.
DateMarch 17, 1996
Official nameIndyCar Rio 400
LocationEmerson Fittipaldi Speedway, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.864 mi / 3.000 km
1.864 mi / 3.000 km
| 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
- Alex Zanardi
- Jimmy Vasser
- André Ribeiro
- Greg Moore
- Parker Johnstone
- Bobby Rahal
- Gil de Ferran
- Adrian Fernandez
- Maurício Gugelmin
- Scott Pruett
- Robby Gordon
- Al Unser Jr.
- Emerson Fittipaldi
- Roberto Moreno
- Michael Andretti
- Bryan Herta
- Carlos Guerrero
- Mark Blundell
- Eddie Lawson
- Hiro Matsushita
- Stefan Johansson
- Jeff Krosnoff
- Marco Greco
- Juan Manuel Fangio II
- Paul Tracy
- Raul Boesel
- Christian Fittipaldi
Did not start
- 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.
Box Score
Did not qualify
Scott Goodyear (#15) - withdrawn, injured in practice crash.
Race statistics
| Lap Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Laps | Leader |
| 1–6 | Alex Zanardi |
| 7 | André Ribeiro |
| 8–60 | Alex Zanardi |
| 61–80 | Gil de Ferran |
| 81–97 | Greg Moore |
| 98–102 | Alex Zanardi |
| 103–104 | Robby Gordon |
| 105–115 | Greg Moore |
| 116–133 | André Ribeiro |
Point standings
After 2 of 16 races
- Scott Pruett 26 points
- Jimmy Vasser 25 points
- Al Unser Jr. 21 points
- André Ribeiro 20 points
- Gil de Ferran 19 points
- Bobby Rahal 18 points