Updated: 8:16 PM EDT May 23, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS Andre Ribeiro, a one-time Indianapolis 500 starter who gave Honda its first IndyCar victory, has died from cancer at the age of 55.
Ribeiro was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was a key member of a Brazilian revolution of drivers in the top level of North American open-wheel racing. He, Gil de Ferran and Christian Fittipaldi helped set the stage for Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Bruno Junqueira and Cristiano da Matta, among others, to race in North America.
Ribeiro’s four seasons in CART were highlighted by a 1995 victory from the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which was Honda’s first win in the sport. That was the first of his three victories for with Tasman Motorsports, the team that brought him to the United States through Indy Lights.
New cases in N.H. lowest in nearly seven months
Update: Monday, May 24, 8:38 a.m.
State health officials reported 79 new cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire on Sunday. That s the lowest one-day count of new infections in almost seven months.
Fifty-four people were hospitalized in New Hampshire due to COVID-19 complications.
The state is tracking 513 active infections, a data point that has also dropped significantly.
- NHPR Staff
Update: Saturday, May 22, 4:59 p.m.
Three additional COVID-19 deaths were announced Saturday.
State health officials said two residents of Rockingham County, and a man from Strafford County, died from the virus. To date, the state has recorded 1,344 COVID-19 deaths.
For 1994, Ribeiro moved to the U.S. and entered Indy Lights with Tasman Motorsports alongside Steve Robertson. Robertson beat Ribeiro to the Lights crown, but the Brazilian still impressed with four wins and four poles and runner-up in the championship.
That earned Ribeiro a ride with Tasman in CART Indy cars in 1995 and although the early Honda unit struggled for reliability in the back of Tasman’s singleton Reynard, a fourth place at Road America was encouraging and then at the one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ribeiro took pole and drove Honda to its first Indy car win.
The racing world is paying tribute to Ribeiro on Sunday.
3 new COVID-19 deaths announced
Update: Saturday, May 22, 4:59 p.m.
Three additional COVID-19 deaths were announced Saturday.
State health officials said two residents of Rockingham County, and a man from Strafford County, died from the virus. To date, the state has recorded 1,344 COVID-19 deaths.
The latest update shows more promising news in the decline of new coronavirus cases. The state reported 109 new cases, and active infections fell below 1,000 there were 954 active cases, as of May 22 at 9 a.m.
Fifty-three people are currently hospitalized for treatment related to COVID-19.
- NHPR Staff
Update: Friday, May 21, 4:01 p.m.
New coronavirus infections continue to decrease. The state announced 127 new cases Friday, 36 of them individuals under 18 years old.
NHPR is continuing to cover the developing story around coronavirus in New Hampshire. Bookmark this page for the latest updates, including case numbers and