1996 Michigan 500

August 2023 The 1996 Michigan 500, the sixteenth running of the event, was held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Sunday, July 28, 1996. Branded as the 1996 Marlboro 500 for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by Andre Ribeiro, his last Indy Car victory. The event was race number 12 of 16 in the 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series. 42 03 58.68 N 84 14 29.18 W type:landmark title United States Michigan 500 Michigan International Speedway track map.png July 28 1996 1996 Marlboro 500 12 16 CART Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan, United States Permanent racing facility 2.000 3.219 250 500.000 804.672 Partly Cloudy with temperatures up to 77 F C; wind speeds reaching up to 10 mph km/hWeather information for the 1996 Marlboro 500 at Wunderground USA Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing 234.665 mph km/h on BRA Andre Ribeiro Tasman Motorsports USA Bryan Herta Rahal Letterman Racing BRA Mauricio Gugelmin PacWest Racing Background Tony George, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, formed the Indy Racing League as an alternative to CART. While the Indianapolis 500 had continued to be sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) since the formation of CART in 1979, CART teams and drivers represented the vast majority of the Indy field, and USAC had taken steps to ensure that the technical specifications for Indy did not preclude CART teams from participating. In 1996, however, following his creation of the IRL, George stipulated that 25 of the 33 starting positions at Indy would be reserved for the top 25 cars which ran events in his series. This move created potential scheduling conflicts with CART-sanctioned events. Interpreting this policy as a lockout of CART teams, the CART board agreed to stage the U.S. 500 at an alternative venue on Memorial Day weekend, the traditional date for the Indianapolis 500. George, on the other hand, viewed the refusal of CART teams to compete for the remaining eight positions on the Indy grid as a walkout/boycott. On December 18, 1995, http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=4109&FS=INDYCAR IRL press release 95-12-19 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Motorsport.com 1995-12-19 2009-12-21 2011-06-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110607232106/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=4109&FS=INDYCAR dead CART teams, convinced that they were being deliberately locked out from the 1996 Indy 500, and the victims of a "power grab" by Tony George, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/19/sports/auto-racing-team-owners-plan-a-race-to-challenge-the-indy-500.html Team Owners Plan a Race To Challenge The Indy 500 The New York Times 1995-12-19 2009-12-21 Joseph Siano announced their intentions to boycott the event. They jointly announced plans for a new race, the Inaugural U.S. 500, to be held at Michigan International Speedway the same day. The 1996 U.S. 500 was held at Michigan at the same time at the Indianapolis 500. The event was won by Jimmy Vasser. Despite the creation of a second 500-mile race, the Marlboro 500 continued unchanged in late July as it had for the last 16 years. Teams and drivers entered the race with the belief that the event was not as an important as the U.S. 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500-pre/127756873/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press This 500 at MIS isn't as Glamorous July 25, 1996 158 Two weeks before the Marlboro 500, Jeff Krosnoff died in a crash at the 1996 Molson Indy Toronto. On Friday, July 26, a memorial service was held for members of the paddock at Michigan.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500-pre/127756753/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Racers at Marlboro 500 on the Fast Track July 26, 1996 33 In addition, flags at the track were raised to half mast in honor of Krosnoff and track worker Gary Avrin who also died in the crash.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500-pra/127757055/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Ribeiro Sets Track Record with 235.714 in Practice July 27, 1996 21 On the weekend of the Marlboro 500, the Championship Drivers Association presented the widow of Scott Brayton with an annuity to pay for the college education of Brayton's daughter Carly. With Brayton competing in the Indianapolis 500 while CART was at the U.S. 500, CART drivers were unable to pay tribute to the Michigan native until the Michigan 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500/127757392/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press MIS Notebook July 29, 1996 36 The track expected an attendance of between 60,000 and 80,000 spectators. 110,000 fans were at the U.S. 500 in May and 127,000 were at NASCAR's Winston Cup race in June. Practice and Time Trials In the first day of practice on Friday, July 26, Andre Ribeiro posted the fastest lap with an average speed around the entire track of 235.714 mph. Ribeiro reached a top speed of 251.903 mph at the end of the backstretch. Alex Zanardi was second fastest at 235.329 mph. Team Penske teammates Paul Tracy and Al Unser Jr. were third and fourth respectively. U.S. 500 champion Jimmy Vasser was fifth.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1996-michigan-500/127757221/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Honda Cars Revved for Marlboro 500 July 27, 1996 29 In Saturday morning's practice session, Paul Tracy spun and hit the wall with the rear of his car. He was hospitalized with a chip fracture of the sixth vertebra and withdrawn from the race.https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-1996-michigan-500-qualify/127757351/ Palladium Item Indiana Associated Press Vassar Sets Michigan Qualifying Record July 28, 1996 14 Jimmy Vasser won the pole with a lap of 234.665 mph. The lap broke the track record set by Mario Andretti in the 1993 Michigan 500. Alex Zanardi was second fastest at 233.501 mph. Completing the front row was Greg Moore, also with a speed of 233.501 mph.https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-1996-michigan-500/127757299/ Battle Creek Enquirer Michigan Associated Press Vasser Wins Marlboro 500 Pole at MIS July 28, 1996 28 Al Unser Jr. was fourth, Emerson Fittipaldi was fifth, Adrian Fernandez was sixth. Race A crowd estimated at 65,000 attended the Marlboro 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500/127757392/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Smashing Comeback July 29, 1996 36 When the field came to take the green flag, CART officials did not approve of how far the field was spread out and waved off the green flag. The cars took the green flag the second time around. Emerson Fittipaldi moved to the outside of Greg Moore and attempted to take the third position in turn one. Moore's car slid up the track and hit Fittipaldi's in the left rear and spun him backwards into the wall. Complaining of back pain, Fittipaldi was airlifted to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured seventh vertebra and partial collapse of the left lung.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-1996-michigan-500/127757655/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press Ribeiro Has Fallen in Love With Ovals July 29, 1996 17 Fittipaldi never raced in IndyCar again. Under caution for Fittipaldi's crash, Andre Ribeiro pitted and returned to the track. New CART rules stated that you could not blend back into the line of cars after exiting the pits, but instead had to wait for the entire field to go by. Ribeiro was unaware of this new rule and angered to be placed behind cars that didn't make a pit stop. On the restart, Zanardi took the lead from Vasser. Recovering from the crash with Fittipaldi, Greg Moore took the lead on lap 30 with a pass on the outside of Zanardi. After a caution for debris, Moore and Zanardi swapped the lead several times before Moore took the lead. A debris caution on lap 67 returned Zanardi to the lead, which he held for a total of 74 laps.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/199612.htm 1996 Marlboro 500 Results On lap 128, race-leader Zanardi drifted high and hit the wall in turn four. Zanardi's wheel fell off and hit the right-rear wheel of Vasser's car. The wheel then hit Gil de Ferran's car and broke off his left side mirror, left a tire mark next to his windshield, and tore off the leftside endplate on his rear wing. "It didn't hit my head so I guess it was my lucky day," de Ferran said, "but it was close."https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1996-michigan-500/127757583/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press IndyCar Notebook July 29, 1996 26 Both cars lost several laps making repairs. Zanardi's crash put Andre Ribeiro in the lead for the first time. Ribeiro led for the next 83 laps until green flag pit stops. With 20 laps remaining, Ribeiro caught a group of lapped cars and was slowed. Defending Michigan 500 champion, Scott Pruett caught and passed Ribeiro to take the lead. Ribeiro repassed Pruett for the lead with 16 laps remaining. One lap later, Parker Johnstone crashed in turn four. Johnstone collapsed on the ground next to his car and was airlifted to the hospital with bruised knees and a sore neck.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1996-michigan-500/127757392/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Pall of Victory Descends on MIS Celebrations July 29, 1996 36 Under caution for the Johnstone crash, Scott Pruett retired from the race with an engine valve problem. The restart set up an eight lap run to the finish. As Ribeiro pulled away, Bryan Herta passed Mauricio Gugelmin for second. Ribeiro beat Herta by 1.378 seconds. It was his third and final IndyCar win. Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameTeamChassisEngineTireLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints Points include one bonus point for leading the most laps and one bonus point for qualifying on pole position 1 8 31 BRA André Ribeiro Tasman Motorsports Lola T96/00 Honda Firestone 250 3:16:33.425 114 21 2 11 28 USA Bryan Herta Team Rahal Reynard 96I Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 250 +1.378 0 16 3 13 17 BRA Maurício Gugelmin PacWest Racing Reynard 96I Ford Goodyear 250 +2.292 3 14 4 4 2 USA Al Unser Jr. Marlboro Team Penske Penske PC-25 Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 249 +1 Lap 0 12 5 14 16 SWE Stefan Johansson Bettenhausen Motorsports Reynard 96I Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 248 +2 Laps 0 10 6 21 21 GBR Mark Blundell PacWest Racing Reynard 96I Ford Goodyear 248 +2 Laps 0 8 7 15 1 BRA Raul Boesel Brahma Sports Team Reynard 96I Ford Goodyear 247 +3 Laps 0 6 8 25 5 USA Robby Gordon Walker Racing Reynard 96I Ford Goodyear 246 +4 Laps 0 5 9 1 12 USA Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96I Honda Firestone 245 +5 Laps 15 5 10 19 11 BRA Christian Fittipaldi Newman/Haas Racing Lola T96/00 Ford Goodyear 245 +5 Laps 0 3 11 18 7 CHL Eliseo Salazar Team Scandia Lola T96/00 Ford Goodyear 245 +5 Laps 0 2 12 17 10 USA Davy Jones Galles Racing Lola T96/00 Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 242 +8 Laps 0 1 13 7 20 USA Scott Pruett Patrick Racing Lola T96/00 Ford Firestone 241 Engine 6 0 14 21 36 ARG Juan Manuel Fangio II All American Racers Eagle Mk-V Toyota Goodyear 240 +10 Laps 0 0 15 20 19 JPN Hiro Matsushita Payton-Coyne Racing Lola T96/00 Ford Firestone 240 +10 Laps 0 0 16 24 98 USA P. J. Jones All American Racers Eagle Mk-V Toyota Goodyear 234 +16 Laps 0 0 17 3 99 CAN Greg Moore Forsythe Racing Reynard 96I Mercedes-Benz Firestone 227 +23 Laps 31 0 18 10 49 USA Parker Johnstone Brix Comptech Racing Reynard 96I Honda Firestone 220 Crash 0 0 19 16 8 BRA Gil de Ferran Hall Racing Reynard 96I Honda Goodyear 209 Suspension 0 0 20 6 32 MEX Adrián Fernández Tasman Motorsports Lola T96/00 Honda Firestone 169 Clutch 0 0 21 2 4 ITA Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96I Honda Firestone 128 Crash 74 0 22 12 6 USA Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T96/00 Ford Goodyear 99 Alternator 7 0 23 22 34 BRA Roberto Moreno Payton-Coyne Racing Lola T96/00 Ford Firestone 93 Crash 0 0 24 9 18 USA Bobby Rahal Team Rahal Reynard 96I Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 41 Engine 0 0 25 5 9 BRA Emerson Fittipaldi Hogan-Penske Racing Penske PC-25 Mercedes-Benz Goodyear 1 Crash 0 0 Source:1996 Marlboro 5001996 Michigan 500 - Round 12 Failed to qualify CAN Paul Tracy (#3) - withdrawn, injured in practice crash Race statistics Lap Leaders Laps Leader 1–15 Jimmy Vasser 16–29 Alex Zanardi 30–45 Greg Moore 46 Michael Andretti 47–48 Alex Zanardi 49 Greg Moore 50–51 Alex Zanardi 52–65 Greg Moore 66–71 Michael Andretti 72–127 Alex Zanardi 128–210 André Ribeiro 211 Scott Pruett 212–214 Maurício Gugelmin 215–229 André Ribeiro 230–234 Scott Pruett 235–250 André Ribeiro Cautions: 8 for 59 laps Laps Reason 1 Start waived off 2–15 Emerson Fittipaldi crash turn 2 40–45 Debris 65–69 Debris 99–106 Roberto Moreno crash turn 4 128–136 Alex Zanardi crash tri-oval 168–174 Debris tri-oval 234–242 Parker Johnstone crash turn 4 Broadcasting The Michigan 500 was broadcast live on television by ABC. Paul Page was the lead announcer and was joined by Danny Sullivan as color commentator.1996 Michigan 500 Telecast: ABC-TV, July 28, 1996 References 2 Michigan 500 Michigan 500 Category:Michigan Indy 400