Brazil's Ribeiro Wins Rio 400

03/19/96

United Press International reported that Brazilian IndyCar driver thrilled race fans all over his home country when he won the inaugural Rio 400 at Emerson Fittipaldi Race Track in Rio De Janeiro. The Rio 400 was the second race of this season's IndyCar PPG series.

Ribeiro Led the last 18 laps of the race, overpowering Al Unser Jr. at a restart after lap 128. Ultimately Ribeiro beat Unser by a margin of 2.141 seconds. Last Sunday's Rio 400 was the first IndyCar event to take place outside of North America since a 1971 in Argentina.

Ribeiro, along with Brazilians Gil de Ferran and Christian Fittipaldi, was one of last season's rookies of the year. Ribeiro drives a Honda-Lola, and chalked up a second IndyCar victory for Honda in as many races. A couple weeks ago in Homestead (the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami), Jimmy Vasser drove his Honda-Reynard to victory.

Check out the results of the Rio 400.
Check Out PPG series point standings After the Rio 400.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel