Newgarden Unveils Second Face on Borg-Warner Trophy After Historic Indy 500 Win

By Michael Anderson

December 5, 2024 at 11:51 AM

Josef Newgarden has unveiled his second likeness on the prestigious Borg-Warner Trophy, commemorating his victory in the 108th Indianapolis 500. His triumph came after an intense eight-lap battle with Pato O'Ward, culminating in a dramatic last-lap pass around the outside of Turn 3 to win by 0.3417 seconds.

Man pointing at Indy 500 trophy

Man pointing at Indy 500 trophy

The victory marked Team Penske's 20th Indy 500 win and made Newgarden the first driver since Helio Castroneves (2001-02) to win consecutive races. This achievement earned him a $440,000 rollover bonus from BorgWarner, bringing his total winnings to $4.288 million.

The new likeness, sculpted by William Behrends, was revealed at CoHatch Polk Stables in downtown Indianapolis. Behrends, who has been crafting the trophy's faces since 1990, created a new life-size sculpture from photographs before scaling it down to the trophy size using oil-based clay. The final sterling silver image was created through a precise process involving wax casting and careful polishing.

Newgarden's second image becomes the 111th face on the 110-pound, 5'4" trophy. This victory proved more satisfying than his first, with Newgarden noting his team's stronger performance throughout May, including qualifying on the front row.

The winning move came on the final lap when Newgarden capitalized on his superior exit speed from Turn 2 and executed a decisive outside pass in Turn 3. He maintained his focus on minimizing speed scrub while using O'Ward's tow to complete the historic pass.

BorgWarner's Global Director Michelle Collins highlighted the significance of the trophy's tradition since 1935, representing the longest continuous partnership between a sporting event and its partner. Early next year, Newgarden will receive his second Baby Borg trophy, while Team Owner Roger Penske will receive a Championship Team Owner's Trophy marking his 20th Indy 500 victory.

Related Articles

Previous Articles