1996 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
Encyclopedia
The 1996 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix was a CART
race which happened at the Nazareth Speedway
on April 28, 1996. It was the 5th round of the 1996 IndyCar season.
driver Paul Tracy
set the a mph speed of 190.737 mph, and also, the pole. It was a New Track Record.
collided with Juan Manuel Fangio II
. The restart came out at lap 22. The top 10 at lap 25: Paul Tracy
, Emerson Fittipaldi
, Scott Pruett
, Michael Andretti
, Jimmy Vasser
, Al Unser, Jr.
, Bobby Rahal
, Robby Gordon
, Greg Moore and Christian Fittipaldi
. At lap 53, Hiro Matsushita was the 1st driver to retire. At lap 79, Andretti stalled his car after a 13.4 pitstop. He continued in the race. At the following lap, the race leader Paul Tracy had hit three mechanics in one move after stop his car in his pit area. The mechanics were not badly injured, but were taken to the hospital. At lap 89, Paul Tracy received a black flag penalty because of the incident with his mechanics. The top 6 at lap 95 was: Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Jr., Greg Moore, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Rahal and Christian Fittipaldi.
lost one of his rear wheels. At the following lap, Gil de Ferran
retired after having suspension problems. He collided with Adrian Fernandez
in the pits. Restart came out at lap 128. At lap 141, the top 12 was: Michael Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Jr., Greg Moore, Bobby Rahal, Jimmy Vasser
, Paul Tracy, Scott Pruett, Christian Fittipaldi, Raul Boesel
, Robby Gordon and Adrian Fernandez.
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race which happened at the Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
on April 28, 1996. It was the 5th round of the 1996 IndyCar season.
Qualifying
Penske RacingPenske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
driver Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
set the a mph speed of 190.737 mph, and also, the pole. It was a New Track Record.
Start - Lap 95
At lap 15, 1st caution came out as Hiro MatsushitaHiro Matsushita
, is a former driver in the Champ Car series. He is the grandson of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.. The family relationship has allowed him to receive financial backing from Panasonic throughout his racing career.-Early career:...
collided with Juan Manuel Fangio II
Juan Manuel Fangio II
Juan Manuel Fangio II is a former auto racing champion and the nephew of legendary auto racer Juan Manuel Fangio....
. The restart came out at lap 22. The top 10 at lap 25: Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
, Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
, Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett
Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
, Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
, Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
, Al Unser, Jr.
Al Unser, Jr.
Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
, Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
, Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
, Greg Moore and Christian Fittipaldi
Christian Fittipaldi
Christian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR...
. At lap 53, Hiro Matsushita was the 1st driver to retire. At lap 79, Andretti stalled his car after a 13.4 pitstop. He continued in the race. At the following lap, the race leader Paul Tracy had hit three mechanics in one move after stop his car in his pit area. The mechanics were not badly injured, but were taken to the hospital. At lap 89, Paul Tracy received a black flag penalty because of the incident with his mechanics. The top 6 at lap 95 was: Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Jr., Greg Moore, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Rahal and Christian Fittipaldi.
Lap 115- Lap 141
At lap 115, 2nd caution came out, as Roberto MorenoRoberto Moreno
Roberto Pupo Moreno , usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining...
lost one of his rear wheels. At the following lap, Gil de Ferran
Gil de Ferran
Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...
retired after having suspension problems. He collided with Adrian Fernandez
Adrian Fernández
José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
in the pits. Restart came out at lap 128. At lap 141, the top 12 was: Michael Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Jr., Greg Moore, Bobby Rahal, Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
, Paul Tracy, Scott Pruett, Christian Fittipaldi, Raul Boesel
Raul Boesel
Raul de Mesquita Boesel is a former racing driver who raced for the March and Ligier Formula One teams and later raced in Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.He won the 1987 World Sportscar Championship and the 1988 24 Hours of Daytona...
, Robby Gordon and Adrian Fernandez.
Closing stages. 33 laps to go
With 33 laps to go, 3rd caution came out as Robby Gordon hit the wall at turn 1. He retired. When the restart would come out, Raul Boesel's engine blew up. The restart came out with 23 laps to go. Andretti's lead was growing up and any problem happened to him as he won the race.Final Results
- Michael AndrettiMichael AndrettiMichael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
- Greg Moore
- Emerson FittipaldiEmerson FittipaldiEmerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
- Al Unser, Jr.Al Unser, Jr.Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
- Paul TracyPaul TracyPaul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
- Bobby RahalBobby RahalRobert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
- Jimmy VasserJimmy VasserJimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
- Scott PruettScott PruettScott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
- Christian FittipaldiChristian FittipaldiChristian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR...
- Adrian FernandezAdrian FernándezJosé Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
- Bryan HertaBryan HertaBryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
- André RibeiroAndré RibeiroAndré Ribeiro , is a former IndyCar World Series and CART racing driver.-Biography:Ribeiro drove in Champ Car for 4 seasons, scoring 3 wins and 2 poles . He drove primarily for Tasman Motorsports and Penske Racing...
- Alex ZanardiAlex ZanardiAlessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
- Mike GroffMike GroffMike Groff is a former race car driver in CART and the Indy Racing League and the 1989 Indy Lights champion. He made 54 starts in CART beginning in 1990 with a best finish of 6th, occurring at Phoenix International Raceway in 1994...
- Mauricio GugelminMauricio GugelminMaurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
- Teo FabiTeo FabiTeodorico Fabi , better known as Teo Fabi, is an Italian former racing driver.-Career:Fabi participated in 71 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on January 23, 1982. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 23 championship points...
- Eddie LawsonEddie LawsonEddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:...
- Jeff KrosnoffJeff KrosnoffJeffrey John Krosnoff was an American race car driver. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but grew up in La Cañada, California. Krosnoff attended Flintridge Prep, a private high school, and enrolled at University of California, San Diego in September 1982. After one year, he transferred to UCLA,...
- Stefan JohanssonStefan JohanssonStefan Nils Edwin Johansson is a former Formula One driver from who drove for among others both Ferrari and McLaren during his Grand Prix career. Since leaving Formula One he has raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing, and Grand Prix Masters...
- Parker JohnstoneParker JohnstoneParker Johnstone III is a former race car driver and motorsports announcer from Redmond, Oregon. An accomplished musician, he was the principal trumpet of the International Youth Orchestra, touring Europe, playing with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, and famed pianist Van Cliburn...
Did not finish
- Raul BoeselRaul BoeselRaul de Mesquita Boesel is a former racing driver who raced for the March and Ligier Formula One teams and later raced in Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.He won the 1987 World Sportscar Championship and the 1988 24 Hours of Daytona...
engine - Robby GordonRobby GordonRobert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
contact - Gil de FerranGil de FerranGil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...
suspension - Roberto MorenoRoberto MorenoRoberto Pupo Moreno , usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining...
lost wheel - Juan Manuel Fangio IIJuan Manuel Fangio IIJuan Manuel Fangio II is a former auto racing champion and the nephew of legendary auto racer Juan Manuel Fangio....
did not finish - Hiro MatsushitaHiro Matsushita, is a former driver in the Champ Car series. He is the grandson of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.. The family relationship has allowed him to receive financial backing from Panasonic throughout his racing career.-Early career:...
did not finish
Points Standings after 5 races
- Jimmy VasserJimmy VasserJimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
73 points - Al Unser, Jr.Al Unser, Jr.Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
53 points - Scott PruettScott PruettScott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
49 points - Greg Moore 36 points
- Gil de FerranGil de FerranGil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...
33 points - Christian FittipaldiChristian FittipaldiChristian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR...
32 points