BorgWarner Awards Baby Borg Trophies to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi for 2025 Indianapolis 500 Win

• Marks first Baby Borg for Alex Palou and seventh for team owner Chip Ganassi
• Ceremony took place at the Unser IndyCar Open Test at Phoenix Raceway

Auburn Hills, Michigan, February 18, 2026 – BorgWarner presented 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou with his very own Championship Driver’s Trophy™, fondly referred to as the ‘Baby Borg.’ The 20-inch trophy is a miniature version of the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy® and features Palou’s name, team name, average speed and sculpted sterling silver likeness. The ceremony was held in at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona during the Unser IndyCar Open Test. The Open Test is dedicated to the legendary Unser family, who represent nine images on the Borg-Warner Trophy: Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), Bobby Unser (1968, 1975, 1981) and Al Unser Jr. (1992, 1994). 

“Presenting the Baby Borg trophies is one of our favorite traditions at BorgWarner, and we are honored to celebrate Alex and Chip for their remarkable achievement at the 2025 Indianapolis 500,” said Michelle Collins, Global Director Marketing and Public Relations, BorgWarner. “The Borg‑Warner Trophy has long stood as a symbol of excellence in motorsports, and it’s a privilege to be part of the iconic legacy of the Indy 500 and to continue a tradition that recognizes the passion, skill, and innovation that drive this sport forward.”

Palou’s likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy, crafted by William Behrends, was unveiled back in November 2025 at a ceremony in downtown Indianapolis. The Trophy was commissioned in 1936 and features every Indy 500 winner, with Palou being the 112th face. The Baby Borg was first created in 1988, with the Championship Team Owner’s Trophy™ established ten years later.

“I’ve been looking forward to this moment since May, waiting to finally bring my Baby Borg home. Being an Indy 500 winner has been incredible. Everyone tells you what it means, but you don’t truly understand it until you’re lucky enough to experience it yourself. While it’s bittersweet that the celebration is winding down, it only fuels my drive to try and do it again,” said Palou. “With the team we have at CGR and on the No. 10 car, I know we’re capable of fighting for much more. Experiencing this for the first time has only strengthened that motivation. Thank you to everyone at BorgWarner and thank you to Chip for your support. I’m thrilled to finally have this trophy at home and am going to take it on a date tonight."

In addition to Palou, team owner Chip Ganassi was presented with the Championship Team Owner’s Trophy to commemorate his seventh Indy 500 win, making Ganassi the second winningest team owner in IndyCar history.

“It’s an honor to be here, and I want to thank BorgWarner and everyone at Phoenix Raceway for hosting the Unser Open Test,” said Ganassi. “This place is special to me — it’s where I drove an IndyCar for the very first time. Coming back now, alongside Alex, brings it all full circle. I even shared one small pointer from my own experience here — not that he needs it. It’s incredible to return, to be part of this moment, and to be part of this great sport. There’s truly no place I’d rather be than right here, right now."

Ganassi is one of the most successful Indy 500 owners in history, securing victories in Indianapolis with Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Scott Dixon (2008), Dario Franchitti (2010, 2012), Marcus Ericsson (2022) and Palou (2025). 

“I have my three Baby Borgs proudly displayed front and center in my home office. They represent some of the greatest days of my motorsports career – something I’ll always be proud of,” said Franchitti. “Being a part of the list of drivers that have won the Indianapolis 500 for Chip Ganassi is special. Chip likes winners and especially likes wining the Indy 500 and through great team personnel, top to bottom, it gives his drivers incredible opportunities to win.”

The IndyCar Series opens on March 1st with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where four-time and defending IndyCar Series Champion Palou will look to continue his success streak. In May, Palou will look to become the seventh driver ever to win back-to-back Indy 500s and cash in the BorgWarner rolling jackpot.

BorgWarner Awards Baby Borg Trophies to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi for 2025 Indianapolis 500 Win_Palou

BorgWarner Awards Baby Borg Trophies to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi for 2025 Indianapolis 500 Win_Ganassi Palou

BorgWarner Awards Baby Borg Trophies to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi for 2025 Indianapolis 500 Win_Shunck Ganassi Collins Palou

BorgWarner Awards Baby Borg Trophies to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi for 2025 Indianapolis 500 Win_Palou speaking