The 1996 Las Vegas 500K was the second round of the 1996-1997 Indy Racing League. The race was held on September 15, 1996, at the 1.500 mi (2.414 km) Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada. It was the fifth and last race for the IRL in the year 1996, and, thus, the last under the frozen 1995 IndyCar regulations, before the arrival of the new chassis and engine formula for 1997. Richie Hearn was the winner of a race defined by its multiple crashes and high attrition, with nine lengthy cautions, 83 laps under yellow, a red flag and four drivers being extricated from their cars.