Henry Ford and Roger Penske are two of the most iconic names in American automotive history.
On January 23 on a rainy, icy night in Dearborn, Michigan, the two names intersected.
Penske, the winning team owner in the 107th Indianapolis 500 in 2023, and his winning driver Josef Newgarden, received their personal “Baby Borg” Trophies in a special ceremony at The Henry Ford – one of the most renowned museums in the United States.
For Penske, it was a 19th Indianapolis 500 victory, which gave the industrialist standout 19 “Baby Borg” trophies.
For Newgarden, it was his first “Baby Borg” but the two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion from Hendersonville, Tennessee remains a viable contender for more Indy 500 wins.
Newgarden’s win in 2023 is also special because it’s the first time Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 since purchasing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the Hulman-George family on Nov. 4, 2019.
Penske, president of Penske Corporation, toasted the award ceremony for its Championship Team Owners Trophy, an award that reaffirms the importance of teamwork and the role the team played in this historic victory.
Penske is the all-time owner of the Indianapolis 500, with 19 wins, adding at least one in a decade, since Mark Donohue’s victory in 1972.
Roger Penske at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by. . . [ ] James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The miniature reproduction of the Borg-Warner® Trophy celebrates Newgarden’s stunning victory at the 2023 Indianapolis 500, where he made history as one of only 3 drivers who effectively overtook on the final lap to win the world-renowned race.
Penske owns the winning team and its collection of Baby Borg trophies — his first Indy 500 win with Mark Donohue in 1972 and his 19th with Newgarden last May.
“Awarding the Baby Borg to the annual winner of the Indianapolis 500 is a culture we started in 1988 and hope to continue with each racing season,” said Frederic Lissalde, president and chief executive officer of BorgWarner. “This reminiscence commemorates Josef’s skillful driving, tenacity, love of the game and result in the 2023 race and is all we were honored to present to him. “
The trophy reproduction is made of sterling silver with a base, is 20 inches tall and weighs five pounds. Like the Borg-Warner Trophy, the miniature edition features a three-dimensional hand-carved sterling silver symbol by Newgarden through sculptor William Behrends. . Behrends has created portraits of 34 racers, adding nine more Team Penske drivers. The trophy also includes Newgarden’s name, as well as that of Team Penske, its winning year and its average speed.
“Ever since I was a young amateur attending the Indianapolis 500 with my family, I’ve dreamed of what it would mean to win the biggest race in the world,” Newgarden said. “From drinking milk and seeing my face at the Borg Warner Trophy to now accepting my Baby Borg alongside Roger Penske, everything has been better than I ever imagined.
“Being the 14th Team Penske driver to win the Indianapolis 500 and settling for a Baby Borg is the highlight of my career and makes me want to enjoy it again. “
Both the historic Borg-Warner Trophy and the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Dallara/Chevrolet Indy car that Newgarden drove to victory in the 2023 Indy 500 will be on display at The Henry Ford Museum’s Driven to Win: Racing in America exhibit through Friday, February 2.
Of the 795 drivers who started the Indy 500, Newgarden was the 75th to win the Indy 500. Since 1911, the Indianapolis 500, four drivers have won four times, six drivers have won three times, and ten drivers have won 4 times. Won twice. 55 Motive Forces won once.
Josef Newgarden is pictured with his carved effigy at an opening rite in the city. [ ] Indianapolis, December 15, 2023. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire Getty Images)
Newgarden is the 110th face of the Borg-Warner Trophy, which debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1936. All winners, from Ray Harroun in 1911 to Josef Newgarden in 2023, are adorned in the sterling silver trophy. Tony Hulman, owner of the track from 1945 until his death in 1977, is remembered with a 24-karat gold image.
The Borg-Warner Trophy weighs pounds and measures 5′ 4-3/4″.
Penske leads all team owners in the Indianapolis 500 with 19. Chip Ganassi is second with six Indianapolis 500 wins, with Lou Moore and Michael Andretti tied for third with five Indianapolis 500 wins as team owners.
Helio Castroneves, Team Penske driver, the most recent driver to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s in 2001 and 2002. Before that, this had only happened four times since the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911: 1939 and 1940, Wilbur Shaw. 1947 and 1948. Mauri Rose, 1953 and 1954 Bill Vukovich and 1970 and 1971 Al Unser.
If Newgarden wins in 2024, winning back-to-back races, he would win an additional $440,000 in the BorgWarner Rollover Jackpot.
The prize fund can only be claimed through a driver who wins the Indianapolis 500 two years in a row. Each year, the jackpot increases by an additional $20,000 and continues until the next driver wins the race multiple years in a row.
The bonus was established by BorgWarner in 1995 and has been claimed just once – by Castroneves in 2002 after he won the Indy 500 for a second straight time.
Fourteen individual driving forces account for 19 Team Penske victories – Driving Force with more than one victory for Team Penske – Rick Mears four victories, Castroneves 3 victories.
Another impressive nugget from Team Penske: Another 26 drivers raced for Penske in the Indianapolis 500 and another 14 drivers won the race, more than 50% of Team Penske’s all-time team celebrated at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Victory Circle.
Penske has won the Indy 500 at least once in the past six decades. The Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1911: 12 decades.
Just as Henry Ford created an iconic American car that endures more than a century later, Penske’s good luck has proven eternal.
Henry Ford sits at the Barber-Warnick special race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before. . . [ ] of the Indianapolis 500 of 1924. (Photo via Camerique/Getty Images)