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| Scott Brayton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1959-02-20)February 20, 1959 |
| Died | May 17, 1996(1996-05-17) (aged 37) Speedway, Indiana, U.S. |
| Relatives | Lee Brayton (father) |
| CART IndyCar World Series | |
| Years active | 1981–1996 |
| Teams | Brayton Racing Hemelgarn Racing Dick Simon Racing Team Menard |
| Starts | 147 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Best finish | 12th in 1991 |
| Previous series | |
| 1996 | Indy Racing League |
Scott Everts Brayton (February 20, 1959 – May 17, 1996) was an Americanrace car driver on the Americanopen-wheel circuit. He competed in 14Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the1981 event. Brayton was killed in practice after qualifying in pole position for the1996 race.
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During the mid-1980s, Brayton helped introduce theBuick 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 forDick 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 theCART IndyCar series, joined the Indy-onlyMenards 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 231.604 mph (372.731 km/h). Turbocharger boost and pop-off valve problems relegated him to a seventeenth place finish.
Brayton was prepared to make hisNASCAR debut at the1995 Brickyard 400. However, he crashed his car during a private test session, and suffered a broken ankle and a concussion.[1]
In 1996,Indianapolis Motor Speedway ownerTony George established theIndy Racing League, andTeam 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 teammateTony 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.
Brayton was making a practice run on May 17 in his backup car when a tire blew going into turn two.[2] The car spun, scrubbed off almost no speed while sliding across the track and hit the outside retaining wall at more than 230 mph (370 km/h). Brayton's head also impacted the wall, and he was killed instantly by the severe impact. His funeral, held in his hometown of Coldwater, Michigan, was attended by a large contingent of drivers and racing personalities.
TeammateTony 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.[3]
Brayton began dating his future wife, Becky, in 1981 and an 11-year courtship followed.[4] The couple had a daughter, Carly, who was two years old at the time of Brayton's death.[5]
On Easter Sunday 1999,[6] Becky married another IRL driver,Robbie Buhl, who would later become a partner in Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
A street course inGrand Rapids, Michigan, used for SCCA racing was known as the Scott Brayton Memorial Street Circuit. It was used for theWest Michigan Grand Prix in 1998[7] and 1999,[8] after which the event folded.[9]
Following Brayton's death, theIndianapolis Motor Speedway announced a new trophy for theIndianapolis 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.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Team Menard | Lola T95/00 | Menard | WDW 15 | PHX 18 | INDY DNS | 18th | 111 | [27] |
‡ 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 raceDanny Ongais drove the pole car from the back of the field and finished seventh.
