André Ribeiro (racing driver)
A Brazilian driver who broke through in America's premier open-wheel series, scoring three memorable CART victories in the 1990s.
1966–2021 (age 55)·Brazilian racing driver·Birthday: January 18·Generation X
Biography
André Ribeiro emerged from the competitive Brazilian racing scene to make his mark on the international stage. After honing his skills in European and South American formulas, he crossed the Atlantic to compete in the CART series, a fierce championship that was the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing at the time. Driving for the Tasman Motorsports team, Ribeiro wasn't just another import; he became a race winner. His first victory came at the 1996 New England 200, a breakthrough that announced his arrival. He followed it with two more wins, proving his talent on both oval and road courses. His career was cut short by health issues, but his success helped pave the way for other Brazilian drivers in the U.S., showcasing a driving style that blended European technique with raw, crowd-pleasing speed.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
André was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When André Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
André's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2021Died at 55
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Won the 1996 New England 200, his first CART victory, driving for Tasman Motorsports.
- Secured three total race wins in the CART IndyCar World Series during the 1990s.
- Competed in the prestigious Indianapolis 500, qualifying 10th in his rookie attempt in 1995.
Did You Know?
He was the first Brazilian to win a CART race.
Before his racing career, he studied business administration at university.
His final CART victory was at the 1997 Miller 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
“In racing, you must respect the speed; it is a living thing.”
