INDIANAPOLIS 500 DAILY REPORT : When Brayton Races, It’s Almost as if He’s Driving the Family Car

Scott Brayton has a special reason for driving a Buick-powered car in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500: The engines are built by Brayton Engineering of Coldwater, Mich., which is owned by Scott and his father, Lee.

“That’s not why I choose the Buick over the Chevrolet I drive the rest of the year,” Brayton explained. “There’s no sentiment in racing. I chose the Buick because after testing both cars here at Indy, I felt it was the best package, the best combination of chassis and engine for this track.”

Brayton has a legacy of success with Buicks at Indianapolis. In 1984, the first time he came to the Speedway with a Buick, he became the first driver to exceed 200 m.p.h. with an American-built stock block engine when he qualified at 203.637. The following year he set the one-lap track record at 214.199 and started on the front row.

Rookie Paul Tracy of Canada is the youngest driver in the race at 23 years 5 months old.

Troy Ruttman was the youngest winner at 22 years 2 months in 1952. The youngest starter was Josele Garza of Mexico, 19 years 2 months when he drove in 1981.