Scott Brayton

Scott Everts Brayton (February 20, 1959 – May 17, 1996) was an American race car driver on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event. Brayton was killed in practice after qualifying in pole position for the 1996 race.

Career

During the mid-1980s, Brayton helped introduce the Buick stock-block V-6 engine to Indianapolis. His father's firm, Brayton Engineering, was a major developer of the race engine. In 1985, he qualified second and set the one-lap Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record in the process. He dropped out early and finished thirtieth when the engine expired. He would not finish the race again until 1989, when he scored his best finish at the Speedway, sixth place but seven laps down. He would equal this finishing position in 1993, driving a Lola-Cosworth for Dick Simon Racing.

When Buick pulled out of IndyCar racing in 1993, John Menard Jr. continued developing the engine, now badged as the Menard V-6. Brayton, now without a regular ride in the CART IndyCar series, joined the Indy-only Menards team in 1994. Their belief in the powerplant paid off when Brayton won his first Indy 500 pole position in 1995, at an average speed of . Turbocharger boost and pop-off valve problems relegated him to a seventeenth place finish.

Brayton was prepared to make his NASCAR debut at the 1995 Brickyard 400. However, he crashed his car during a private test session, and suffered a broken ankle and a concussion.

In 1996, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George established the Indy Racing League, and Team Menard signed up to compete in their first full season of IndyCar racing. Because the majority of the established teams and drivers of open-wheel racing competed in the rival CART series, Brayton (and rookie teammate Tony Stewart) were considered legitimate contenders for the IRL title. After a bad start to the season, Brayton asserted his competitiveness by winning his second Indy pole after a dramatic qualifying session in which he withdrew an already-qualified car to get a second chance at taking the top spot.

Death Brayton was making a practice run on May 17 in his backup car when a tire blew going into turn two. The car spun, scrubbed off almost no speed while sliding across the track and hit the outside retaining wall at more than . Brayton was killed instantly from a basular skull fracture by the severe impact. His funeral, held in his hometown of Coldwater, Michigan, was attended by a large contingent of drivers and racing personalities.

Teammate Tony Stewart, who qualified second, took over the pole starting position. A substitute driver, Danny Ongais, took over the car with which Brayton had qualified for the pole, and finished seventh.

Personal life Brayton began dating his future wife, Becky, in 1981 and an 11-year courtship followed. The couple had a daughter, Carly, who was two years old at the time of Brayton's death.

On Easter Sunday 1999, Becky married another IRL driver, Robbie Buhl, who would later become a partner in Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Memorial Street Circuit A street course in Grand Rapids, Michigan, used for SCCA racing was known as the Scott Brayton Memorial Street Circuit. It was used for the West Michigan Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999, after which the event folded.

Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy Following Brayton's death, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a new trophy for the Indianapolis 500 dedicated to the driver who best exemplifies the attitude, spirit and competitive drive of Brayton. A driver could only be awarded the trophy once in his/her Indy career. It was awarded through 2009.

Racing record

American open-wheel racing results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

PPG Indycar World Series (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref 1981 Brayton Racing PHX15 MIL11 ATL9 ATL10 MCH7 RIV8 MIL21 MCH24 WGL20 MEX23 PHXDNQ 13th 57 1982 Brayton Racing PHX14 ATL MIL14 CLE MCH11 MIL POC24 RIV ROA MCH10 PHX 33rd 11 1983 Brayton Racing ATL INDY9 MIL CLE24 MCH12 ROA POC28 RIV MDO MCH13 CPL26 LAG PHX 24th 5 1984 Brayton Racing LBH PHX INDY18 MIL22 POR25 MEA14 CLE11 MCH13 ROA12 POC6 MDO12 SAN11 MCHDNS PHX23 LAG15 CPL8 23rd 19 1985 Brayton Racing LBH11 INDY30 MILDNQ POR6 MEA15 CLE25 MCH8 ROA POC16 MDO SAN MCH22 22nd 15 Hemelgarn Racing LAG26 PHX18 MIADNQ 1986 Hemelgarn Racing PHX24 LBH INDY30 MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH13 POC27 MDO SAN MCH19 ROA LAG PHX MIA NC 0 1987 Hemelgarn Racing LBH PHX INDY12 MIL POR5 MEA10 CLE TOR MCH22 POC25 ROA MDO NAZ LAG MIA 22nd 14 1988 Hemelgarn Racing PHX15 LBH23 INDY31 MIL10 POR9 CLE16 TOR14 MEA11 MCH26 POC10 MDO ROA NAZ18 LAG MIA24 23rd 12 1989 Dick Simon Racing PHX15 LBH12 INDY6 MIL18 DETDNQ POR13 CLE28 MEA10 TOR14 MCH11 POC14 MDO15 ROA13 NAZ10 LAG20 15th 17 1990 Dick Simon Racing PHX13 LBH9 INDY7 MIL20 DET10 POR25 CLE22 MEA9 TOR14 MCH16 DEN12 VAN9 MDO8 ROA13 NAZ12 LAG24 15th 28 1991 Dick Simon Racing SRF6 LBH8 PHX13 INDY17 MIL6 DET9 POR15 CLE7 MEA9 TOR6 MCH9 DEN16 VAN10 MDO13 ROA11 NAZ19 LAG27 12th 52 1992 Dick Simon Racing SRF20 PHX9 LBH17 INDY22 DET12 POR22 MIL3 NHA17 TOR17 MCH10 CLE21 ROA12 VAN8 MDO10 NAZ8 LAG10 15th 39 1993 Dick Simon Racing SRF16 PHX25 LBH24 INDY6 MIL6 DET14 POR17 CLE18 TOR19 MCH11 NHA6 ROA7 VAN24 MDO9 NAZ15 LAG24 15th 36 1994 Team Menard SRF PHX LBH INDY20 MIL DET POR CLE TOR MCH MDO NHA VAN ROA NAZ LAG 49th 0 1995 Team Menard MIA SRF PHX LBH NAZ INDY17 MIL DET POR ROA TOR CLE MCH MDO NHA VAN LAG 34th 1

Indy Racing League Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 Rank Points Ref 1996 Team Menard Lola T95/00 Menard WDW15 PHX18 INDYDNS 18th 111

Indianapolis 500 For the 1996 Indianapolis 500, Brayton qualified on the pole. The following Friday he was fatally injured driving a back-up car during practice. In the race Danny Ongais drove the pole car from the back of the field and finished seventh.