1996 Indy Lights season

Last updated

The 1996 PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship Powered By Buick consisted of 12 races. Canadian David Empringham captured three wins on his way to the championship. [1]

Contents

This was the last season where all teams used the Lola T93/20-Buick spec car, which was replaced in the 1997 season by the Lola T97/20-Buick spec car.

The scoring system was 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points awarded to the first 12 (twelve) finishers, with 1 (one) extra point given to the driver who took pole-position, and another extra point given to the driver who led most laps in the race.

1996 Indy Lights season
PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship
Season
Races12
Start dateMarch 3
End dateSeptember 8
Awards
Drivers' champion Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham
  1995
1997  

Team and driver chart

The following drivers and teams competed in the series:

TeamNo.DriversRound(s)
Brian Stewart Racing2 Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Andersson 1–2
Flag of the United States.svg Nick Firestone 4–9
Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Giaffone 11–12
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles All
61 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Miller All
Dorricott Racing31 Flag of Japan.svg Shigeaki Hattori All
32 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Ward All
FRE Racing17 Flag of Brazil.svg José Cordova 1–2
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Faucetta Jr. 3
Flag of South Africa.svg Jaki Scheckter 5–7, 12
Flag of the United States.svg Robbie Buhl 9
Forsythe Racing 33 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham All
66 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Claude Bourbonnais All
99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bertrand Godin 9–12
Genoa Racing 24 Flag of the United States.svg David DeSilva All
Indy Regency Racing 28 Flag of Japan.svg Hideki Noda All
Leading Edge Motorsports4 Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Giaffone 1–8
Flag of Brazil.svg José Giaffone 10–12
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sohrab Amirsardari 9
56
23 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis All
77 Flag of Mexico.svg Rodolfo Lavín 1–2, 4–12
PacWest Lights 10 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Reid 9
Flag of the United States.svg Robby Unser 1–2
123–7, 9–12
Flag of the United States.svg Casey Mears 8
Performance Racing9 Flag of the United States.svg Andy Boss 1–2
Flag of the United States.svg David LaCroix 11
RaceCars88 Flag of Colombia.svg Diego Gumzán 1
Flag of Brazil.svg Paulo Carcasci 2
Flag of Mexico.svg Freddy van Beuren 8–12
89 Flag of Paraguay.svg Danny Candía 1
Flag of Paraguay.svg Roque Aranda 2–4
Flag of Brazil.svg Maurício Slaviero 7–9
Summit Motorsports20 Flag of the United States.svg Doug Boyer 1–2, 4–6
Tasman Motorsports 37 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan All
38 Flag of Argentina.svg José Luís Di Palma All
39 Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves All
Team Green 26 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Simmons All
27 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Ray All
Team Leisy / McCormack34 Flag of the United States.svg Harry Puterbaugh Jr. 1, 3
Flag of the United States.svg Shan Groff 2, 12
35 Flag of Sweden.svg Niclas Jönsson 2
Team Medlin12 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Padilla 1–3, 5–12

Schedule

Rd.DateTrackLocation
1March 3 O  Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida
2April 14 R  Long Beach Street Circuit Long Beach, California
3April 28 O  Nazareth Speedway Nazareth, Pennsylvania
4May 25 O  Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
5June 2 O  Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin
6June 9 R  The Raceway at Belle Isle Park Detroit, Michigan
7June 23 R  Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
8June 30 R  Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio
9July 14 R  Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario
10August 4 R  Circuit Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières, Quebec
11September 1 R  Streets of Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia
12September 8 R  Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California

Race results

RoundCircuit Pole position Most laps ledRace Winner
DriverTeam
1 Flag of the United States.svg Homestead-Miami Speedway Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Forsythe Racing
2 Flag of the United States.svg Long Beach Street Circuit Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Forsythe Racing
3 Flag of the United States.svg Nazareth Speedway Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Claude Bourbonnais Flag of the United States.svg David DeSilva Flag of the United States.svg David DeSilva Genoa Racing
4 Flag of the United States.svg Michigan International Speedway Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Forsythe Racing
5 Flag of the United States.svg Milwaukee Mile Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis Leading Edge Motorsports
6 Flag of the United States.svg The Raceway at Belle Isle Park Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Tasman Motorsports
7 Flag of the United States.svg Portland International Raceway Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Brian Stewart Racing
8 Flag of the United States.svg Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Brian Stewart Racing
9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Exhibition Place Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Ward Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles Brian Stewart Racing
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Circuit Trois-Rivières Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Tasman Motorsports
11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Streets of Vancouver Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Ward Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Claude Bourbonnais Forsythe Racing
12 Flag of the United States.svg Laguna Seca Raceway Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Tasman Motorsports

Race summaries

Homestead race

Held March 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. David Empringham won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. David Empringham
  2. Chris Simmons
  3. Mark Hotchkis
  4. David DeSilva
  5. Jeff Ward

Long Beach race

Held April 14 at Long Beach, California Street Course. Gualter Salles won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. David Empringham
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Gualter Salles
  4. Hélio Castro-Neves
  5. Alex Padilla

Nazareth race

Held April 28 at Nazareth Speedway. Claude Bourbonnais won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. David DeSilva
  2. David Empringham
  3. Mark Hotchkis
  4. Chris Simmons
  5. Jeff Ward

Michigan race

Held May 25 at Michigan International Speedway. David Empringham won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. David Empringham
  2. Mark Hotchkis
  3. Jeff Ward
  4. Robby Unser
  5. Hélio Castro-Neves

Milwaukee race

Held June 2 at The Milwaukee Mile. Mark Hotchkis won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Mark Hotchkis
  2. Greg Ray
  3. David Empringham
  4. Gualter Salles
  5. Chris Simmons

Detroit race

Held June 9 at Belle Isle Raceway. David Empringham won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Tony Kanaan
  2. Alex Padilla
  3. Claude Bourbonnais
  4. José Luis Di Palma
  5. Jaki Scheckter

Portland race

Held June 23 at Portland International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Gualter Salles
  2. Alex Padilla
  3. David Empringham
  4. Claude Bourbonnais
  5. Tony Kanaan

Cleveland race

Held June 30 at Burke Lakefront Airport. Mark Hotchkis won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Gualter Salles
  2. Claude Bourbonnais
  3. Hélio Castro-Neves
  4. Nick Firestone
  5. Hideki Noda

Toronto race

Held July 14 at Exhibition Place. Jeff Ward won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Gualter Salles
  2. Claude Bourbonnais
  3. Hideki Noda
  4. Shigeaki Hattori
  5. Alex Padilla

Trois-Rivières race

Held August 4 at the Trois-Rivières, Quebec Street Circuit. Hélio Castro-Neves won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Hélio Castro-Neves
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Alex Padilla
  4. David Empringham
  5. Bertrand Godin

Vancouver race

Held September 1 at Pacific Place. Jeff Ward won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Claude Bourbonnais
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Jeff Hotchkis
  4. Alex Padilla
  5. David Empringham

Laguna Seca race

Held September 8 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top Five Results

  1. Tony Kanaan
  2. Hélio Castro-Neves
  3. Claude Bourbonnais
  4. Alex Padilla
  5. Jeff Ward

Championship standings

Drivers' championship

Scoring system
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  11th  12th 
Points20161412108654321
PosDriver HMS
Flag of the United States.svg
LBH
Flag of the United States.svg
NAZ
Flag of the United States.svg
MIS
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL
Flag of the United States.svg
DET
Flag of the United States.svg
POR
Flag of the United States.svg
CLE
Flag of the United States.svg
TOR
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
TRO
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
VAN
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
LAG
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg David Empringham 1*1*21*3213216456148
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan 102121771*5192422*1*113
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Gualter Salles 631164221*1*1*152119108
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Claude Bourbonnais Wth71618834222013104
5 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hotchkis 39321*9101891937102
6 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Padilla 17515172220534490
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves DNS4175111783231*10284
8 Flag of the United States.svg David DeSilva 4101*7196121615718961
9 Flag of Argentina.svg José Luís Di Palma 1566814411781161356
10 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Simmons 223412572111141771254
11 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Ward 5853DNS111713201620553
12 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Ray 711181528610166171648
13 Flag of Japan.svg Shigeaki Hattori 9DNS10196137948161442
14 Flag of Japan.svg Hideki Noda 11167131216205312131534
15 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Unser 1315144101015109142025
16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bertrand Godin 75111021
17 Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Giaffone 1424131091816622820
18 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Firestone 111620941918
19 Flag of South Africa.svg Jaki Scheckter 5181112
20 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Miller 211862018151914211092312
21 Flag of Paraguay.svg Roque Aranda 20998
22 Flag of Mexico.svg Freddy van Beuren 1212138177
23 Flag of the United States.svg Doug Boyer 8221613195
24 Flag of the United States.svg Casey Mears 85
25 Flag of the United States.svg Robbie Buhl 112
26 Flag of Mexico.svg Rodolfo Lavín 16191415121415131812212
27 Flag of the United States.svg Shan Groff 12221
28 Flag of Brazil.svg José Cordova 12251
29 Flag of Brazil.svg Mauricio Slaviero 1317180
30 Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Andersson 20130
31 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sohrab Amirsardari 14170
32 Flag of Brazil.svg José Giaffone 1419180
33 Flag of the United States.svg Andy Boss 19140
34 Flag of the United States.svg David LaCroix 150
35 Flag of Sweden.svg Niclas Jönsson 170
36 Flag of Colombia.svg Diego Guzmán 180
37 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Faucetta Jr. 190
38 Flag of Brazil.svg Paulo Carcasci 210
39 Flag of Paraguay.svg Danny Candía 220
40 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Reid 220
41 Flag of the United States.svg Harry Puterbaugh Jr. 23DNS0
PosDriver HMS
Flag of the United States.svg
LBH
Flag of the United States.svg
NAZ
Flag of the United States.svg
MIS
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL
Flag of the United States.svg
DET
Flag of the United States.svg
POR
Flag of the United States.svg
CLE
Flag of the United States.svg
TOR
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
TRO
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
VAN
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
LAG
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished

(Outside Top 10)

PurpleDid not finish
RedDid not qualify

(DNQ)

BrownWithdrawn

(Wth)

BlackDisqualified

(DSQ)

WhiteDid not start

(DNS)

BlankDid not

participate (DNP)

Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position(1 point)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*Led most race laps

(2 points)

1Qualifying cancelled

no bonus point awarded

References

  1. "Standings".