André Ribeiro (racing driver)

André Ribeiro da Cunha Pereira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈdɾɛ ˈʁibejɾu]) (January 18, 1966 – May 22, 2021)^[1] was a Brazilian racing driver who raced in CART from 1995 through 1998, where he claimed three wins.

André Ribeiro
Ribeiro in 1995
Born	André Ribeiro da Cunha Pereira (1966-01-18)January 18, 1966 São Paulo, Brazil
Died	May 22, 2021(2021-05-22) (aged 55)
Cause of death	Colorectal cancer
Champ Car career
69 races run over 4 years
Years active	1995-1998
Team(s)	No. 31 (Tasman Motorsports; 1995-1997) No. 3 (Team Penske; 1998)
Best finish	11th (1996)
First race	1995 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami (Bicentennial Park)
Last race	1998 Marlboro 500 (California)
First win	1995 New England 200 (New Hampshire)
Last win	1996 Marlboro 500 (Michigan)
Wins Podiums Poles 3 4 2
Previous series
1990 1991-1993 1994	Formula Opel British Formula Three Championship Indy Lights
Statistics current as of May 31, 2021.

Career

Ribeiro started his career in karting and he finished second in the Paulista Kart Championship, Brazil's national karting championship, for three consecutive years between 1986 and 1988. In 1989 he moved to compete in Formula Ford finishing third in his debut season in Brazil's national Formula Three Championship. In 1990 he moved to Formula Opel where he competed for Team Lotus Nederland. In 1991 he moved to British Formula 3 where he drove first for Paul Stewart Racing and then Fortec Motorsport. In 1994 he drove in Indy Lights for Tasman Motorsports finishing second in his debut 1994 season where he won four races.

Ribeiro remained with Tasman Motorsports when he moved to CART in 1995 and would remain with them until 1997. He finished 18th at the 1995 Indianapolis 500, and got a win at New Hampshire.^[2] In 1996 he won two oval races at his homeland Jacarepaguá and at the Michigan summer race, and finished fourth at the U.S. 500. The driver ranked fourth in points. In 1997 he scored a third place finish at Toronto and a fourth place at Laguna Seca. For the 1998 season Ribeiro remained in CART but moved to Team Penske, where he scored just 13 points with no top 5s. He retired at the end of the 1998 season.

The Brazilian received an offer to work with Roger Penske in South America, with United Auto, running over 15 car dealerships in São Paulo.^[3] He also promoted the Brazilian Formula Renault and Renault Clio Cup together with Pedro Paulo Diniz.

Ribeiro died on 22 May 2021, aged 55, from colorectal cancer.^[1][4]

Racing record

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Indy Lights

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Rank	Points
1994	Tasman Motorsports	PHX 4	LBH 20	MIL 17	DET 4	POR 1	CLE 5	TOR 2	MDO 1	NHA 2	VAN 1	NAZ 2	LS 1	2nd	170
Source:[5]

CART

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points	Ref
1995	Tasman Motorsports	Reynard 95i	Honda HRX V8t	MIA 21	SRF 23	PHX 26	LBH 12	NZR 11															17th	38	[6]
			Honda HRH V8t						INDY 18	MIL 25	DET 18	POR 14	ROA 4	TOR 13	CLE 27	MIS 21	MDO 27	NHA 1	VAN 23	LS 26
1996	Tasman Motorsports	Lola T96/00	Honda HRH V8t	MIA 16	RIO 1	SRF 8	LBH 27	NZR 12	500 4	MIL 8	DET 24	POR 7	CLE 20	TOR 21	MIS 1	MDO 8	ROA 19	VAN 21	LS 19				11th	76	[7]
1997	Tasman Motorsports	Lola T97/00	Honda HRR V8t	MIA 12	SRF 6	LBH 14	NZR 26	RIO 15	STL 10	MIL 26	DET 25	POR 13											14th	45	[8]
		Reynard 97i											CLE 14	TOR 3	MIS 23	MDO 10	ROA 22	VAN 10	LS 4	FON 17
1998	Penske Racing	Penske PC-27	Mercedes-Benz IC108E V8t	MIA 17	MOT 9	LBH 22	NZR DNQ	RIO 22	STL 20	MIL 18	DET 16	POR 15	CLE 22	TOR 23	MIS 28	MDO 10	ROA 25	VAN 7	LS 14	HOU 17	SRF 13	FON 28	22nd	13	[9]
Sources:[5][10]

References

1. Cuenca, Pedro Luis (May 23, 2021). "André Ribeiro morre aos 55 anos vítima de câncer no intestino". Terra.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese).
2. André Ribeiro biography Archived June 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
3. UAB Motors Archived August 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
4. Malsher-Lopez, David (May 23, 2021). "Former Indy car star Andre Ribeiro dies of cancer aged 55". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
5. "Andre Ribeiro". Motor Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
6. "André Ribeiro – 1995 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
7. "André Ribeiro – 1996 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
8. "André Ribeiro – 1997 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
9. "André Ribeiro – 1998 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
10. "André Ribeiro". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

External links

• Official site (in Portuguese)