Alex Palou’s Likeness Unveiled for Borg-Warner Trophy
Indianapolis, IN — Alex Palou, the reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion, has unveiled the full-size clay model of his likeness that will be sculpted for the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy, commemorating his victory at the 109th Indianapolis 500. This signifies Palou becoming the 112th driver featured on the trophy since its commissioning by Borg-Warner Corporation in 1935.
The trophy, standing at 5 feet 4.75 inches and weighing 110 pounds, has historically included the faces of Indy 500 winners in sterling silver, with the notable exception of Tony Hulman’s visage, carved in 24-karat gold after he saved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945.
Palou’s performance this year has been stellar; he clinched eight wins in 17 races, highlighted by his triumph in the Indianapolis 500. In a decisive move on lap 187, Palou overtook 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson, navigating through heavy traffic to capture victory. This marked the seventh Indy 500 win for Chip Ganassi Racing, following previous successes by renowned drivers such as Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon.
Palou, now the 76th different Indy 500 winner, reflected on the challenges of the race, stating, “You can never be certain about the race… many good drivers have been strong at Indy but never won it.” He acknowledged the importance of past experiences, citing lessons learned from his previous attempts at the Brickyard.
Renowned sculptor Will Behrends, who has crafted the faces of 36 Indy 500 champions since 1990, expressed satisfaction with the clay study, noting adjustments made based on Palou’s features. He remarked, “This is just a study, learning the face… it helps the creation of the smaller one to go much faster.”
Palou’s likeness will be formally unveiled in November in Indianapolis, marking a significant milestone in his racing career as he joins the ranks of legends commemorated on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
