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.

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