At 12:17 p.m., Scott Brayton in the #23 Menards/Glidden/Quaker State Special had an tire failure in the middle of Turn 2, did a half-spin 420 feet to hit the wall with the left side, slid 360 feet along the wall, then came off the wall 600 feet to a stop on the inside of the track in the middle of the backstretch. Indy 500 Report:
Brayton Pronounced Dead
©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing
The car sustained heavy left side damage. Brayton was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital of Indiana, accompanied by Dr. Henry Bock, Speedway Medical Director.
Brayton, 37, of Coldwater, Michigan was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. local time at Methodist Hospital. The Speedway delayed the announcement of Brayton's death until 4 p.m. so family members could be notified. Brayton is survived by his wife, Becky, his daughter Carly, 2 1/2, and his parents Lee and Jean.