Scott Brayton


Scott Everts Brayton 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 for the 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 2nd and set the one-lap Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record in the process. He dropped out early and finished 30th when the engine expired. He would not finish the race again until 1989, when he scored his best finish at the Speedway, 6th 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 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 17th-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 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 it blew a tire going into turn two, and it then half-spun and hit the outside retaining wall at more than. Brayton's car scrubbed off virtually no speed as it spun, and as the car impacted the wall on its left side, the force was such that Brayton's head also impacted the wall. Brayton 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.
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 have a daughter named Carly, who was 2 and a half years old at the time of Scott'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 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.
YearWinner
1997John Paul, Jr.
1998Roberto Guerrero
1999Eliseo Salazar
2000Eddie Cheever
2001Davey Hamilton
2002Arie Luyendyk
2003Buddy Lazier
2004Hélio Castroneves
2005Kenny Bräck
2006Sam Hornish, Jr.
2007Tony Kanaan
2008Vítor Meira
2009Sarah Fisher

Racing record

American open-wheel racing results

PPG Indycar Series

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617RankPoints
1981Brayton RacingPHX
15		MIL
11		ATL
9		ATL
10		MCH
7		RIV
8		MIL
21		MCH
24		WGL
20		MEX
23		PHX
DNQ		13th57
1982Brayton RacingPHX
14		ATL
MIL
14		CLE
MCH
11		MIL
POC
24		RIV
ROA
MCH
10		PHX
33rd11
1983Brayton RacingATL
INDY
9		MIL
CLE
24		MCH
12		ROA
POC
28		RIV
MDO
MCH
13		CPL
26		LAG
PHX
24th5
1984Brayton RacingLBH
PHX
INDY
18		MIL
22		POR
25		MEA
14		CLE
11		MCH
13		ROA
12		POC
6		MDO
12		SAN
11		MCH
DNS		PHX
23		LAG
15		CPL
8		23rd19
1985Brayton RacingLBH
11		INDY
30		MIL
DNQ		POR
6		MEA
15		CLE
25		MCH
8		ROA
POC
16		MDO
SAN
MCH
22		22nd15
1985Hemelgarn RacingLAG
26		PHX
18		MIA
DNQ		22nd15
1986Hemelgarn RacingPHX
24		LBH
INDY
30		MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
TOR
MCH
13		POC
27		MDO
SAN
MCH
19		ROA
LAG
PHX
MIA
NC0
1987Hemelgarn RacingLBH
PHX
INDY
12		MIL
POR
5		MEA
10		CLE
TOR
MCH
22		POC
25		ROA
MDO
NAZ
LAG
MIA
22nd14
1988Hemelgarn RacingPHX
15		LBH
23		INDY
31		MIL
10		POR
9		CLE
16		TOR
14		MEA
11		MCH
26		POC
10		MDO
ROA
NAZ
18		LAG
MIA
24		23rd12
1989Dick Simon RacingPHX
15		LBH
12		INDY
6		MIL
18		DET
DSQ		POR
13		CLE
28		MEA
10		TOR
14		MCH
11		POC
14		MDO
15		ROA
13		NAZ
10		LAG
20		15th17
1990Dick Simon RacingPHX
13		LBH
9		INDY
7		MIL
20		DET
10		POR
25		CLE
22		MEA
9		TOR
14		MCH
16		DEN
12		VAN
9		MDO
8		ROA
13		NAZ
12		LAG
24		15th28
1991Dick Simon RacingSRF
6		LBH
8		PHX
13		INDY
17		MIL
6		DET
9		POR
15		CLE
7		MEA
9		TOR
6		MCH
9		DEN
16		VAN
10		MDO
13		ROA
11		NAZ
19		LAG
27		12th52
1992Dick Simon RacingSRF
20		PHX
9		LBH
17		INDY
22		DET
12		POR
22		MIL
3		NHA
17		TOR
17		MCH
10		CLE
21		ROA
12		VAN
8		MDO
10		NAZ
8		LAG
10		15th39
1993Dick Simon RacingSRF
16		PHX
25		LBH
24		INDY
6		MIL
6		DET
14		POR
17		CLE
18		TOR
19		MCH
11		NHA
6		ROA
7		VAN
24		MDO
9		NAZ
15		LAG
24		15th36
1994Team MenardSRFPHX
LBH
INDY
20		MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MCH
MDO
NHA
VAN
ROA
NAZ
LAG
49th0
1995Team MenardMIA
SRF
PHX
LBH
NAZ
INDY
17		MIL
DET
POR
ROA
TOR
CLE
MCH
MDO
NHA
VAN
LAG
34th1

Indy Racing League

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 and finished seventh.