2014 Indianapolis 500 Winner Ryan Hunter-Reay is the 101st Image on the Iconic Trophy
Auburn Hills, Michigan, December 3, 2014 – A new century of achievement began at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum with the unveiling of the 101st image on the Borg-Warner Trophy™ today. The first American winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 2006, Ryan Hunter-Reay earned his place in history, racing to victory in the secondclosest finish at the Indianapolis 500. The iconic Borg-Warner Trophy features the threedimensional sterling silver image of every Indianapolis 500 winner dating back to Ray Harroun in 1911.
“The Borg-Warner Trophy is a truly impressive icon. It is a history of the greatest drivers in the sport, a celebration of the current champion, and the pinnacle of performance drivers hope to achieve,” said James R. Verrier, President and Chief Executive Officer, BorgWarner. “Everyone at BorgWarner is proud to continue the spirit of competitive performance the trophy represents.” “It is a lifelong dream come true to see my face accompany those of racing’s greatest drivers on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Being one of the 101 faces on the trophy is quite humbling. It will always be part of history and a moment I will remember forever,” said Hunter-Reay. “Now that I am part of the permanent trophy, the next exciting step is to receive my Baby Borg in January. I can't wait to receive it and take it back to Florida to share with Beccy and Ryden!”
The unveiling ceremony featured a video documenting the meticulous sculpting process by renowned American artist William Behrends, who has sculpted the last 25 consecutive images. Among the 101 images adorning the Borg-Warner Trophy, all are drivers, except for one. In tribute to his rejuvenation of the track and Indianapolis 500 following World War II, a 24-karat gold likeness of late Speedway Owner and President Anton “Tony” Hulman, Jr., was added in 1988. In 1924 and 1941, two drivers shared the victory and a spot on the trophy, one for starting the race and the other for finishing it. Two bases have been added to the original trophy, providing added capacity for more winners until 2034. The Borg-Warner Trophy stays on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
To provide the winner with a personal keepsake, BorgWarner established the BorgWarner Championship Driver’s Trophy™ (also known as the “Baby Borg”) in 1988, which includes a duplicate image of the winner. The BorgWarner Team Owner’s Trophy™ was established in 1998. Both sterling silver replicas of the Borg-Warner Trophy will be presented during the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit on January 14, 2015. For more information about the trophies, visit borgwarner.com and choose “The Indianapolis 500” from the “Company” pull-down menu at the top of the home page.