Who was known for His speed, and synonymous with
those stock block Buicks…
Today marks the 53rd anniversary of another
fallen driver at Mother Speedway, that being Art Pollard.
Remembering
Art Pollard - Redux
Yet instead, this story is about the late Scott
Brayton, whom I really know nothing about. But it seems appropriate that upon
the 30th anniversary of His death, May 17, 1996 33 cars will be roaring around
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway…
A Coldwater, Michigan native born on February
20, 1959. I have no idea how Scott began racing or rose thru the ranks to
become an IndyCar driver. Or that Scott’s father Lee Brayton was an IndyCar
driver Himself, who attempted racing in the 1972-74 Indianapolis 500 races.
With His best results being three tenth place finishes; twice at Michigan
International Speedway, and once at Texas World Speedway between 1972-75.
Lee also ran Brayton Engineering, being instrumental
in the Buick V-6 Stock Block engine’s development and building of engines.
Scott drove for the family’s Brayton Racing
between 1981-85. Presumably in older equipment, since a cursory “look-see” at
1981’s CART PPG IndyCar World Series entries notes the usage of a Penske PC-6 Cosworth
DFX. Along with somebody named Floyd Ganassi Jr making His IndyCar debut at the
Phoenix season finale in a second Brayton Racing chassis…
Scott then switched to Hemelgarn Racing for 1986-88.
Meaning I must have seen Him racing at Portland the latter two years, where He
finished fifth and ninth.
Then came what must have only been five
frustrating years driving for Dick Simon Racing between 1989-93.
Being a Young Buck then, I’m certain I
lambasted Scott alongside Lyn St. James in those perpetual CART Back-markers
during my yearly jaunts to Portland International Raceway. Even though Brayton
recorded His best season finish of 12th overall in 1991, with an eventual 147
career IndyCar starts. With Brayton’s best finish being a podium in 1992 at the
Milwaukee Mile, finishing third.
In 1994, Soctt moved onto Team Menard, then an
Indy 500 Only contestant, where He’d spend the rest of His career before His
untimely death.
Arguably, Scott’s best known for His two
Indianapolis 500 poles, but I’m getting ahead of Thyself…
As Scott
made a total of 14 Indy 500 starts between 1981 to 1996, having failed to
qualify in 1982.
For His rookie outing in 1981, Brayton finished
16th after starting in the middle of Row 10. (29th) Then for 1983, Scott scored
His first Top-10 finish at the Brickyard in ninth.
It appears that Scott in a Brayton Racing March
84C was the first driver to utilize the stock block Buick V-6 at Mother
Speedway. Qualifying 26th and finishing P18. Then displaying the Buick’s mighty
horsepower one year later. With a superb second place in qualifying, bested
only by Pancho Carter, also driving a Buick stock block racecar.
Brayton set the one-lap record at 214.199mph on
His third lap, but slowed on lap four due to transmission woes. Setting the
four lap record at 212.354mph.
Yet although Carter couldn’t top Brayton’s one
lap record, Pancho did qualify at 212.533mph, claiming the four lap record by a
miniscule 0.177 seconds enroute to winning the 1985 pole.
Brayton finished a disappointing 30th when His
engine “Done Blown Up” on lap 19! Whilst Carter was the race’s first retirement
on lap six with a failed oil pump.
Its funny, when I think of Buick at Indy, I
think of Jim Crawford, and to lesser extent Gary Bettenhausen. Alongside Scott
in those Heartily-boosted BuickV-6 lumps not known for their reliability.
Scott’s best finish at Indianapolis were a pair
of sixth place finishes. Once in 1989, driving a Lola T89/00 Buick V-6. And
again in 1993, aboard a Lola T93/00
Ford-Cosworth XB.
Sandwiched in-between the pair of sixes, was
the third of His eventual four Top-10 finishes, with a seventh place result in
a Lola/Cosworth. With His best three finishes all being for Dick Simon.
Having moved to Team Menard in an Indy 500 Only
role the year prior, for 1995, Scott claimed the first of His two pole
positions at the Brickyard. Claiming P1 with a four lap average of 231.604mph.
Yet pop-off valve and turbocharger gremlins saw Brayton finish P17, 10 laps
behind winner Jacques Villeneuve.
Most of us know that 1996 was a tumultuous year
in Open wheel Racing, thanks to Tony George creating the Indy Racing League
(IRL) an infamous 25-8 rule…
Thus being a CART loyalist, my attention was
firmly focused upon the U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway instead,
meaning I didn’t watch that year’s Indianapolis 500.
Scott claimed His second pole position that May
in noteworthy fashion. Having qualified at 231.535mph, not fast enough for P1.
As rookie teammate Tony Stewart had set “A New Track Record” at 233.100mph!
With 33 minutes remaining, Arie Luyendyk took
to the track in His backup chassis, having blown-up His primary car’s engine
that morning! With the “Flying Dutchman” setting new one and four lap records
with a pole speed of 233.390mph.
Yet at 5:42PM, with Team Menard having pulled
Brayton’s previous time, Scott took to the track aboard His backup chassis, an
re-qualified with a four lap average of 233.718mph for His second pole
position!
At 7:45PM, Luyendyk’s car was DQ’ed
(Disqualified) due to being seven pounds under the minimum 1,550lb weight
limit, elevating Stewart to second place and Davy Jones to third.
Sadly, on May 17th while practicing, Scott blew
a tyre entering Turn-3 and was killed instantly when slamming the wall at
230mph! Dying at the age of 37, leaving behind wife Becky, and two year old
daughter Carly.
Danny Ongais would drive as Scott’s
replacement, starting last, with Tony Stewart starting from pole…
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway instituted the Scott Brayton Drivers award the following year, awarded to drivers demonstrating the same passion and spirit of Scott until 2009. Which I’m guessing such drivers as Davey Hamilton cherish winning this award…
