# 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series

The 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series season was the eighteenth in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) era of American open-wheel car racing. It consisted of 16 races, beginning in Homestead, Florida on March 3 and concluding in Monterey, California on September 8. This was the first season after the split with the Indy Racing League and the last year that CART operated under the name "IndyCar", with the trademark reverting to Indianapolis Motor Speedway at season's end. The Indianapolis 500 was replaced by the U.S. 500, held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion was Jimmy Vasser, whose Honda/Reynard won four of the first six races, including the inaugural US 500. Rookie of the Year was Alex Zanardi. The competition soon starting catching up to Vasser, who had to fend off two late challenges from veterans: Al Unser Jr.'s consistent performance saw him come close to tying Vasser late in the season, but his hopes evaporated after a last-lap crash at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and an engine failure while leading on the final turn at Road America. Michael Andretti's resulting victory there and in Vancouver put him in contention at the final race, but a disappointing result at Laguna Seca gave Vasser the championship. Rookie driver Jeff Krosnoff and a course worker died in an accident at the Toronto round, and one week later, Emerson Fittipaldi was in a serious accident at the start of the Marlboro 500 and had to retire.

## Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1996 Indy Car World Series season.
| Team | Chassis | Engine | Tires | No | Drivers | Rounds | Primary Sponsor |
| Brahma Sports Team | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XD | G | 1 | Raul Boesel | All | Brahma |
| Marlboro Team Penske | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 2 | Al Unser Jr. | All | Marlboro |
| Marlboro Team Penske | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 3 | Paul Tracy | 1–12, 14–16 | Marlboro |
| Marlboro Team Penske | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 3 | Jan Magnussen | 13 | Marlboro |
| Target/Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96I | Honda HRH | F | 4 | Alex Zanardi R | All | Target |
| Target/Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96I | Honda HRH | F | 12 | Jimmy Vasser | All | Target |
| Walker Racing | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XD | G | 5 | Robby Gordon | All | Valvoline |
| Walker Racing | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 15 | Scott Goodyear | 1–2, 11, 15–16 | Valvoline DuraBlend |
| Walker Racing | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 15 | Mike Groff | 5 | Valvoline DuraBlend |
| Walker Racing | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 15 | Fredrik Ekblom | 6 | Valvoline DuraBlend |
| Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XD | G | 6 | Michael Andretti | All | Texaco-Havoline |
| Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XD | G | 11 | Christian Fittipaldi | All | Budweiser |
| Team Scandia | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 7 | Marco Greco | 1–2 | Int. Sports/Perry Ellis |
| Team Scandia | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 7 | Eliseo Salazar | 7, 9, 12–13 | Cerveza Cristal |
| Team Scandia | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 22 | Carlos Guerrero | 1–3 | Herdez |
| Team Scandia | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 22 | Michel Jourdain Jr. R | 4, 7–9, 15–16 | Herdez |
| Hall Racing | Reynard 96I | Honda HRH | G | 8 | Gil de Ferran | All | Pennzoil |
| Hogan Penske Racing | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 9 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 1–12 | Mobil 1 |
| Hogan Penske Racing | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 9 | Jan Magnussen R | 14–16 | Mobil 1 |
| Galles Racing International | Lola T96/00 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 10 | Eddie Lawson R | 1–11 | Delco Electronics |
| Galles Racing International | Lola T96/00 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 10 | Davy Jones | 12–16 | Delco Electronics |
| Bettenhausen Motorsports | Reynard 96I | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 16 | Stefan Johansson | All | Alumax |
| Bettenhausen Motorsports | Penske PC-23 | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 26 | Gary Bettenhausen | 6 | Alumax |
| PacWest Racing Group | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 17 | Maurício Gugelmin | All | Hollywood Cigarettes |
| PacWest Racing Group | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 21 | Mark Blundell R | 1–2, 6–16 | Visa |
| PacWest Racing Group | Reynard 96I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 21 | Teo Fabi | 4–5 | Visa |
| Team Rahal | Reynard 96I | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 18 | Bobby Rahal | All | Miller |
| Team Rahal | Reynard 96I | Mercedes IC 108C | G | 28 | Bryan Herta | All | Shell |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | F | 19 | Hiro Matsushita | All | Panasonic |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XB | F | 34 | Roberto Moreno | All | Data Control |
| Patrick Racing | Lola T96/00 | Ford Cosworth XD | F | 20 | Scott Pruett | All | Firestone |
| Arciero-Wells Racing | Reynard 96I | Toyota RV8A | F | 25 | Jeff Krosnoff R | 1–11 | Arciero-Wells Racing 6 MCI 8 |
| Arciero-Wells Racing | Reynard 96I | Toyota RV8A | F | 25 | Max Papis R | 13–14, 16 | Arciero-Wells Racing 6 MCI 8 |
| Tasman Motorsports Group | Lola T96/00 | Honda HRH | F | 31 | André Ribeiro | All | LCI Communications |
| Tasman Motorsports Group | Lola T96/00 | Honda HRH | F | 32 | Adrián Fernández | All | Tecate |
| All American Racers | Eagle MK-V | Toyota RV8A | G | 36 | Juan Manuel Fangio II R | All | Castrol |
| All American Racers | Eagle MK-V | Toyota RV8A | G | 98 | P. J. Jones R | 6–16 | Castrol |
| Della Penna Motorsports | Reynard 95I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 44 | Richie Hearn R | 4, 11, 16 | Ralphs |
| Brix Comptech Racing | Reynard 96I | Honda HRH | F | 49 | Parker Johnstone | All | Motorola |
| Project Indy | Reynard 95I | Ford Cosworth XB | G | 64 | Dennis Vitolo | 4 | SmithKline Beecham |
| Player's/Forsythe Racing | Reynard 96I | Mercedes IC 108C | F | 99 | Greg Moore R | All | Player's |

## Season Summary
### Schedule

| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Circuit | Location |
| 1 | March 3 | Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota | O Homestead Motorsports Complex | Homestead, Florida |
| 2 | March 17 | IndyCar Rio 400 | O Autódromo de Jacarepaguá | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 3 | March 31 | Bartercard Indycar Australia | R Surfers Paradise Street Circuit | Surfers Paradise, Australia |
| 4 | April 14 | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | R Streets of Long Beach | Long Beach, California |
| 5 | April 28 | Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix | O Nazareth Speedway | Nazareth, Pennsylvania |
| 6 | May 26 | U.S. 500 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 7 | June 2 | Miller 200 | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 8 | June 9 | ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix | R The Raceway on Belle Isle Park | Detroit, Michigan |
| 9 | June 23 | Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 | R Portland International Raceway | Portland, Oregon |
| 10 | June 30 | Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland | R Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 11 | July 14 | Molson Indy Toronto | R Exhibition Place | Toronto, Ontario |
| 12 | July 28 | Marlboro 500 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 13 | August 11 | Miller 200 | R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio |
| 14 | August 18 | The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 | R Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin |
| 15 | September 1 | Molson Indy Vancouver | R Concord Pacific Place | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 16 | September 8 | Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Bank of America 300 | R Laguna Seca Raceway | Monterey, California |
– Toronto was scheduled to run 170 miles, but was shortened due to the fatal accident of Jeff Krosnoff.  O Oval/Speedway  R Road/Street course

### Race results

| Rnd | Race | Pole position | Fastest lap | Race Winner | Race Winner | Race Winner | Race Winner | Race time | Report |
| Rnd | Race | Pole position | Fastest lap | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race time | Report |
| 1 | Homestead | Paul Tracy | Greg Moore | Jimmy Vasser | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:51:23 | Report |
| 2 | Rio | Alex Zanardi | Gil de Ferran | André Ribeiro | Tasman Motorsports | Lola | Honda | 2:06:08 | Report |
| 3 | Surfers Paradise | Jimmy Vasser | Jimmy Vasser | Jimmy Vasser | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 2:00:46 | Report |
| 4 | Long Beach | Gil de Ferran | Paul Tracy | Jimmy Vasser | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:44:02 | Report |
| 5 | Nazareth | Paul Tracy | Emerson Fittipaldi | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford | 1:25:08 | Report |
| 6 | Michigan 1 | Jimmy Vasser | Alex Zanardi | Jimmy Vasser | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 3:11:48 | Report |
| 7 | Milwaukee | Paul Tracy | Michael Andretti | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford | 1:33:32 | Report |
| 8 | Belle Isle | Scott Pruett | Christian Fittipaldi | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford | 2:00:44 | Report |
| 9 | Portland | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:50:25 | Report |
| 10 | Cleveland | Jimmy Vasser | Jimmy Vasser | Gil de Ferran | Jim Hall Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:35:39 | Report |
| 11 | Toronto | André Ribeiro | Alex Zanardi | Adrián Fernández | Tasman Motorsports | Lola | Honda | 1:41:59 | Report |
| 12 | Michigan 2 | Jimmy Vasser | Adrián Fernández | André Ribeiro | Tasman Motorsports | Lola | Honda | 3:16:33 | Report |
| 13 | Mid-Ohio | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:46:49 | Report |
| 14 | Road America | Alex Zanardi | Paul Tracy | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford | 1:56:33 | Report |
| 15 | Vancouver | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford | 1:48:16 | Report |
| 16 | Laguna Seca | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 1:48:32 | Report |

### Final driver standings

| Pos | Driver | MIA | RIO | SUR | LBH | NAZ | 500 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIC | MDO | ROA | VAN | LAG | Pts |
| 1 | Jimmy Vasser | 1 | 8 | 1* | 1 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 154 |
| 2 | Michael Andretti | 9 | 22 | 19 | 7 | 1* | 23 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1* | 9 | 132 |
| 3 | Alex Zanardi RY | 24 | 4* | 21 | 24 | 13 | 17* | 13 | 11 | 1* | 2 | 2* | 21 | 1* | 3 | 26 | 1* | 132 |
| 4 | Al Unser Jr. | 8 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2* | 22 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 10* | 5 | 16 | 125 |
| 5 | Christian Fittipaldi | 6 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 2* | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 110 |
| 6 | Gil de Ferran | 2 | 10 | 11 | 5* | 23 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1* | 18 | 19 | 17 | 25 | 4 | 25 | 104 |
| 7 | Bobby Rahal | 5 | 6 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 19 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 102 |
| 8 | Bryan Herta | 10 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 86 |
| 9 | Greg Moore R | 7 | 18 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 23 | 25 | 6 | 84 |
| 10 | Scott Pruett | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 21 | 7 | 20 | 3 | 82 |
| 11 | André Ribeiro | 16 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 20 | 21 | 1* | 8 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 76 |
| 12 | Adrián Fernández | 11 | 14 | 23 | 6 | 10 | DNS | 11 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 71 |
| 13 | Paul Tracy | 23* | 19 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 27 | 9 | 5 | Wth | | 12 | 18 | 29 | 60 |
| 14 | Maurício Gugelmin | 26 | 25 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 5 | 53 |
| 15 | Stefan Johansson | 19 | 23 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 27 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 43 |
| 16 | Mark Blundell R | 17 | 27 | | | | 5 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 12 | 24 | 41 |
| 17 | Parker Johnstone | Wth | 16 | 24 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 25 | 26 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 33 |
| 18 | Robby Gordon | 3 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 29 |
| 19 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 13 | 11 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 25 | 20 | 22 | 14 | 25 | | | | | 29 |
| 20 | Eddie Lawson R | 15 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 15 | | | | | | 26 |
| 21 | Roberto Moreno | 27 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 24 | 3 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 27 | 12 | 25 |
| 22 | Raul Boesel | 14 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 7 | 22 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| 23 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | 21 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 14 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 28 | 5 |
| 24 | Jan Magnussen R | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 26 | 22 | 8 | 5 |
| 25 | Scott Goodyear | 12 | Wth | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | 9 | 18 | 5 |
| 26 | P. J. Jones R | | | | | | DNP$^1$ | 24 | 9 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 27 | 4 |
| 27 | Max Papis R | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | 9 | | 22 | 4 |
| 28 | Hiro Matsushita | 18 | 24 | 10 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 28 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 27 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 3 |
| 29 | Richie Hearn R | | | | 10 | | | | | | | 25 | | | | | 17 | 3 |
| 30 | Eliseo Salazar | | | | | | | 21 | | 18 | | | 11 | 15 | | | | 2 |
| 31 | Davy Jones | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | 16 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 1 |
| 32 | Marco Greco | 25 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 33 | Carlos Guerrero | 20 | 20 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 34 | Mike Groff | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 35 | Jeff Krosnoff R | 22 | 26 | 18 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16$^2$ | | | | | | 0 |
| 36 | Teo Fabi | | | | 18 | 16 | DNP$^1$ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 37 | Michel Jourdain Jr. R | | | | 23 | | | 23 | DNS | 22 | | | | | | 16 | 26 | 0 |
| 38 | Dennis Vitolo | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 39 | Gary Bettenhausen | | | | | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 40 | Fredrik Ekblom R | | | | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | MIA | RIO | SUR | LBH | NAZ | 500 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIC | MDO | ROA | VAN | LAG | Pts |
| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th–6th place |
| Light Blue | 7th–12th place |
| Dark Blue | Finished (Outside Top 12) |
| Purple | Did not finish |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn (Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Blank | Did not participate (DNP) |
| Blank | Not competing |
In-line notation :
| Bold | Pole position |
| Italics | Ran fastest race lap |
| * | Led most race laps |
| RY | Rookie of the Year |
| R | Rookie |
Notes:
* $^1$ P. J. Jones and Teo Fabi are registered in the official results for the U.S. 500 as 'withdrawn', but their withdrawal before the start of practice meant that they did not compete in any of the official sessions.
* $^2$ Jeff Krosnoff died in an accident at the Molson Indy Toronto.

### Nations' Cup

* Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.
| Pos | Country | Pts |
| 1 | United States | 282 |
| 2 | Brazil | 206 |
| 3 | Italy | 120 |
| 4 | Canada | 111 |
| 5 | Mexico | 71 |
| 6 | Sweden | 43 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 41 |
| 8 | Argentina | 5 |
| 9 | Denmark | 5 |
| 10 | Japan | 3 |
| 11 | Chile | 2 |
| Pos | Country | Pts |

### Chassis Constructors' Cup

| Pos | Chassis | Pts | Wins |
| 1 | Reynard 96I | 276 | 8 |
| 2 | Lola T9600 | 260 | 8 |
| 3 | Penske PC-25/PC-23 | 139 | 0 |
| 4 | Eagle MK V/96 | 9 | 0 |
| Pos | Chassis | Pts | Wins |

### Engine Manufacturers' Cup

| Pos | Engine | Pts | Wins |
| 1 | Honda | 271 | 11 |
| 2 | Ford XD/XB | 234 | 5 |
| 3 | Mercedes | 218 | 0 |
| 4 | Toyota | 9 | 0 |
| Pos | Engine | Pts | Wins |