It was an event fitting for the occasion. The unveiling of the most recent Indianapolis 500 winner’s face on the Borg Warner trophy each December has become akin to the coronation of a new ruler of England. The winner is known in May, then in December his likeness is officially placed on the trophy.
The reveal event has evolved over the years. The first one I attended was in 2016. It was a low key affair. Alexander Rossi spent some time with a group of fans before his face was shown on the Borg Warner trophy. Before Covid, these little affairs were held at the IMS Museum.
In 2022, Marcus Ericsson saw his image in sterling at a luncheon near downtown, followed by a nice buffet lunch. Last night, i think IMS may havefound a permanent home to honor its reigning champion.
The trophy stood in all its grandeur with a 1914 Stutz Bearcat in the background.
The Stutz Museum hosted the event. Attendees sat among classic Stutz automobiles, including a 1973 Stutz Black Hawk.
I think some of the cars were removed to accommodate last night’s event.
Newgarden’s image is one of the better ones in recent years. His features stand out, and you can tell who it is. Too many of the recent winners’ faces seem to have sameness about them.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN – BORG WARNERTROPHY
Newgarden is still overwhelmed by his victory. You can hear it in his voice as he speaks about last May. He hopes to attend this end of year event again as the honoree.
“As soon as you win the Indy 500, you want to win it again,” he said.
The Stutz Museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm, Thursday Friday form 4pm – 8 pm. Admission is free and is open to the public. It is a good idea to check before going in case it is closed for a private event.
From Indycar. I will have a follow up story with more photos later this morning.
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 15, 2023) – 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Dec. 15 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he won his first Indy 500 on May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newgarden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. This was the 19th Indy 500 victory for Team Penske. The unveiling ceremony took place at the Stutz Museum. Located in downtown Indianapolis, the Stutz Museum is a boutique car museum showcasing rare classic cars alongside Indianapolis automotive history. The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Newgarden is the 110th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936. “It’s a tremendous honor to even compete in the Indy 500,” Newgarden said. “Having my face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the coolest parts about winning the race. I already had a lot of respect for the trophy, but learning about the process and how detailed it is, it’s incredible what (sculptor) Will Behrends does each year. “Finally seeing the finished product is very special. I thought I knew what it would be like to win the ‘500,’ but there’s a deeper appreciation than you can imagine.” Renowned sculptor Behrends created Newgarden’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.Behrends begins his creative process by studying a series of 360-degree photos of the winner to get a baseline for sculpting. Newgarden then visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session where Behrends constructs a full-scale clay model of the driver’s face. This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before adhering it to the trophy. “It is my absolute honor, on behalf of BorgWarner, to unveil Josef’s image on the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy today,” said Michelle Collins, global director of marketing and public relations, BorgWarner. “This solidifies Josef’s place in history as one of the few who have conquered the tremendous feat of winning the Indianapolis 500. We extend our congratulations to Josef and Team Penske and also our thanks to our sculptor Will Behrends, who makes this all a reality.” Originally designed in 1935, the sterling silver trophy measures over 5 feet, 4-3/4 inches tall and weighs more than 110 pounds as it carries the sculpted face of every victor since 1911. Early next year, Newgarden will receive his BorgWarner Championships Driver’s Trophy, also known as the “Baby Borg,” a miniature replica of the large-scale Borg-Warner Trophy. Tickets for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.
Familiarity with a documentary subject can be a dangerous thing. it colors the way you view the film. It is fun to remember the high points, and it fills the viewer with dread knowing what is about to occur. This was the case at the premiere of The Lionheart at the Heartland International Film Festival last night in Indianapolis.
Laura Brownson’s 108-minute film kicked off the film festival in a sold-out theater. All were looking forward to a story about two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Indirectly the film is about Wheldon, but the main focus is on his widow, Susie Wheldon and his sons, Sebastian and Oliver.
The film presents Wheldon’s life and racing career with television highlights and home movies of his early carting career interspersed with the daily lives of Susie helping their sons pursue their racing dreams. Both boys display talent in karting, and they have signed with Andretti Global. Sebastian just completed his first season in F4 juniors and will join him soon.
This is in reality Susie’s story. The scenes of her as she processes her grief tugged at my heart in an all too familiar way. I suffered the same type of loss 10 days after she did.
Yet, it is not a sad tale. The film opens with Dan joking around as he is recording radio promotions. I found joy in seeing the playful Wheldon race fans adored. The story moves forward with vignettes from Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, Dan’s father Clive, and Bryan Herta. You can feel the pain of Dan’s loss when Clive Wheldon’ talks about his son.
Then, as I’m sure most of the audience knew, as the film wound down, Las Vegas reared its ugly head. Sebastian and Oliver were scheduled to race at Las Vegas Speedway in a kart race in the track’s parking lot. Oliver is reluctant to go at first, and I think Susie has some concerns about the trip as well. Sebastian is fine with racing there. Eventually they all make the trip. Susie goes inside the track to the spot of the fatal accident.
There are scenes of the crash, and Susie talks about the horrors she went through that day.
While the title refers to Dan Wheldon, Susie is the star of the story. her resolve to do whatever she can to see that her sons are happy, the sacrifices she makes for them, and her efforts keeping Dan’s memory alive make her the real Lionheart.
The Lionheart will have another showing Saturday, October 14 at 7 pm at Newfields. As of this morning tickets are available. I understand that HBO has purchased the film and it will be released in 2024.
What caused Pete Kreis’s fatal crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1934? William Walker, a cousin of the driver, seeks the answer in this biography of Kreis. The accident is called the “strangest death in auto racing history.”
Walker builds the story through research and talks with Pete’s sister Hazel, the last of the Kreis line.
Albert Jacob “Pete” Kreis is the youngest son of John Kreis, who owns a railroad construction business and a dairy farm. The elder Kreis is a local legend who as a boy swam through a strong current in a river near Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is the sheriff of the community who brings law and order to the town in the late 1800s. John’s sons, Harman, John, and Pete, all strive for that one heroic act to emulate their father. Pete’s racing career comes the closest to achieving the hero status they all seek.
Pete Kreis
The Kreis sons convince John to purchase a Marmon. The boys commandeer the auto, and soon Harmon begins racing on a short dirt track. Pete soon begins his racing career at the age of fourteen. Pete’s racing skills continue to improve, and his father begins to explore how to advance his racing career.
In 1924, Pete drives a neighbor to town on an icy road. In his quest to get his friend to his appointment on time, the car slides on the ce, the car rolls over, and the neighbor dies.
Later that year, Pete gets a test to race for the Duesenberg brothers, who have the best race cars at the time. He joins the team and meets Peter de Paolo, who becomes his teammate and mentor.
The 1925 Indianapolis 500 established Pete as an up-and-coming talent. He qualifies ninth and finishes eighth. De Paolo wins the race at a record speed of 101.127 mph. His record stands for seven years.
Pete learns board track racing that summer. He gets off to an auspicious with a fifth place finish in his first start. Board track racing is dangerous, and a fatality is virtually expected at each event. Pete’s reputation is assured, and he heads into 1926 with a lot of confidence.
Kreis seems to have the car to beat as practice begins for the 500. Just before qualifying begins Pete contracts influenza and while in the hospital realizes he will be unable to compete. He allows rookie Frank Lockhart to drive the car.
Lockhart needs all three qualifying attempts to get in the field. He wins the race after starting 20th.
Pete has another decent year, although he has the reputation as a driver who is fast but hard on equipment. Several mechanical failures and crashes thwart good finishes.
Kreis also manages the family business which is beginning to take more and more of his time.
In 1934 Kreis comes to Indianapolis on the first of the month looking for a ride. It is not until May 24 that Harry Hartz offers him a ride in one of his Miller powered roadsters. The next day Pete takes the car out for practice. After several warmup laps, the car hits the turn 1 wall, rides along the top of it for 200 feet, then plunges over the barrier hitting a tree. Kries dies instantly, and his riding mechanic succumbs minutes later.
The cause of the accident is puzzling. There were no mechanical issues with the car, no tire marks indicating the driver lost control, no abnormalities on the track surface. What happened?
Walker begins to explore psychological reasons. Was Pete depressed? Did he lose focus? Could it have been suicide? Except for one missing element, suicide appears to be the cause.
Walker finds the missing piece of the puzzle in his final talk with Hazel before her death. Walker believes the case is now closed/
The biography takes a few chapters to really grab my interest, but I found it a fascinating look into the racing world of the 1920s and 30s. Besides De Paolo, Harry Hartz and Tommy Milton are featured, as well as the Duesenberg brothers and Harry Miiller.
I learned about a driver that I had not heard of before.
If you’re looking for an off season racing read, this is a good choice. The book is available at Octane Press.
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023) – Mickey Rupp, who started the 1965 Indianapolis 500 but gained even more acclaim as a recreational vehicle and sport fishing equipment entrepreneur, died Aug. 20. He was 87. Rupp, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, qualified 15th and finished sixth in the No. 81 G.C. Murphy Gerhardt/Offy rear-engine car in 1965. He passed his rookie test in a front-engine Chapman Special Offy roadster that year before moving to the rear-engine car for practice, qualifying and the race. That sixth-place performance would have earned Rookie of the Year honors in many editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” but the 1965 rookie class was arguably the strongest in “500” history. Mario Andretti finished third and Gordon Johncock fifth ahead of Rupp. Future “500” legend Al Unser and future Indy pole winner and USAC national champion Joe Leonard were among the eight other rookies in the field that year who finished behind Rupp. Rupp’s INDYCAR SERIES driving career was quite short, with just five starts overall in 1964 and 1965. But he finished in the top 10 in three of those five races, with a best result of fifth at Milwaukee a week after he finished sixth at Indianapolis.His commitment and responsibilities to his growing recreational vehicle empire pulled Rupp from the driver’s seat. Rupp started building kart kits in his basement in the late 1950s and then began manufacturing his designs that included such innovations as step frames, improved braking systems and eventually four-wheel independent suspension. His Dart Karts immediately became very popular and were produced through the late 1960s, and his brother-in-law – legendary Indianapolis 500 chassis designer A.J. Watson – appeared in a magazine ad for the 1959 Dart Kart.His company, Rupp Manufacturing (which was renamed Rupp Industries), also produced popular mini-bikes, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles distinguishable by their performance and bright red color schemes.Dart Kart also gained marketplace recognition due to racing sponsorships in the early 1960s, including a USAC sprint car owned by Watson and driven by A.J. Foyt in 1960 and the car that Don Davis drove in the 1961 Indianapolis 500.Rupp Manufacturing reached new heights in 1963 and 1964 when its karts and minibikes were supplied to Sears, which successfully sold them through the company’s widely circulated Sears Catalog.Rupp sold Rupp Industries in the late 1970s and turned his design and entrepreneurial skills to the water. An avid sport fisherman, Rupp designed and manufactured an outrigger system that also gained rapid popularity.Rupp Marine Inc. was formed in 1980 as demand grew for Rupp’s outrigger designs, and the company still produces sport fishing hardware sold globally from its base in Stuart, Florida.
We have lost another legendary family. Bill Vukovich II, son of the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500 winner, died last night at the age of 79. He was the last of the Vukovich family.
His father, Bill Vukovich, was my first racing hero, and I was excited when Bill Junior came to the Speedway in 1968. He had big shoes to fill, and he did well.
Bill, Junior was only 10 years old when his father died. I wonder how much better a driver he might have been if he could have learned from Bill, Senior.
Vukovich won Rookie of the Year honors in 1968 with a seventh-place finish. In 1973 and 1974 he finished second and third in the 500, and earned three top 5s and six top 10s in his Indianapolis career.
Vukovich finished second in points in the 1972 USAC season. He split his time between USAC and THE ppg series later in his career.
Vukovich endured the worst of racing. His father, Bill, died in an accident while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500, and his son, Billy III, died in a practice accident in a midget in Bakersfield, California.
With the help of IMS next May, we can say a proper farewell to the Vukovich family. The 108th running of the 500 will be the 70th anniversary of the senior Vukovich’s second straight victory. I hope management can fit in a tribute to one of the Speedway’s legendary names.
Last weekend at Road America, a friend posted that he was attending his 100th Indycar race. I congratulate him on reaching an amazing milestone. I have never kept track of how many races i have attended. i am sure it is more than 100. Guessing on the conservative side, I have probably attended around 120 races, 56 of which are Indianapolis 500s. Note- total does NOT include Ray Harroun’s win.
I began to wonder how many different drivers have I seen win races. After some research to jog my fading memory, I came up with a total of 57 different drivers. The number seems low, but I have seen multiple Indyc 500 wins by nine different drivers, which lowers the number of winners I’ have seen at IMS to 47.
As I looked up other races I have attended, I found that most were won by Indianapolis 500 winners. That makes sense. If a driver has won the 500, it is usually one of many victories in his career. I did find drivers who never won the 500 that got to the checkered flag first in races I witnessed first hand.
I do know that my first Indycar race was the 1959 Hoosier Hundred, won by Rodger Ward. I went to six or seven Hoosier Hundreds. A. J. Foyt won most of them. Mario Andretti and parnelli jones each won one. The low number of individual winners makes more sense with the results of these races. The Hoosier Hundred is the race no longer on the schedul;e that I miss the most.
The Ten
Drivers who never won the 500 that I saw win races, some of them more than once, are:
Ryan Briscoe
Carlos Munoz
Sebastien Bourdais
James Hinchcliffe
Alex Palou
Pato O’Ward
Felix Rosenqvist
Rinus VeeKay
Charlie Kimball
Graham Rahal
Who have I seen win the most? That is a diffidcult thing to remember, but I would say it is between Scott Dixon and Will Power. I didn’t start attending races outside the 500 until 2008.
What I learned by checking out the winners I’ve seen is that drivers who get a 500 win are the best at their craft, regardless of the era. My statistics confirm that winning an Indycar race is hard.
If you’ve been to at least 25 races, look back on how many different drivers have won those events. Like me, I think you’ll find that number surprisingly small.
The 500 Victory Celebration can at times be a bit of a stuffy low key affair, but last night’s banquet was ajoyous, lfun filled program. The mood was ectremely light hearted as anorther May in indianapolis came to close.
I don’t know if the 1,000 plus fans in attendance was a record for this event, but it was definitely a larger crowd than the previous two banquets.
As usual, Conor Daly was the star of the show. he always livens up the program when it’s his turn to come to the podium. Last night’s gem- Newgarden will not only have his face on the Borg Warner trophy but also his abs.
Pato offered fashion advice
Pato O’Ward and Lindsey Czarniak had a humorous discussion about Pato’s clothing choices. Lindsay dismissed him when he asked if she liked his shoes.
The emotional tribute to Tony Kanaan was a fitting send off toone of the most popular drivers IMS has seen. After his lettr to fans clip which was shown on the video boards Sundy played, Kanaan received a standing ovation usually reserved for the race winner. Helio Castroneves, Kanaan’s lifelong friend, joined the dais and the two reminisced for a bit.
Kanaan tried to get Helio to promise to stop dying his hair since Tony is done racing. The secret is out.
Josef Newgarden’s speech as full of humility and gratitude for the sacrifices his parents made to launch his racing career. Winning has opened a new side of Newgarden i hadn’t seen before. Like Will Power after his 2018 win, he seems less wound tight, and more at ease.
In May, 2021, I wrote a post wondering ahere the buzz around the 500 had gone. It was the first year after the pandemic, but the whole seemed to run in a rather perfunctory manner. This May, i felt that buzz and excitement from the start of practice for the GMR Grand Prix all the way through last evening. I athink track attendance was a reflection of that. This year felt a lot like the 70s and 80s.
I stated my thoughts yesterday on the finish, and I will just say the series is walking a very fine line between racing and entertainment. I hope in the future they decide to lean more toward the racing. It is entertaining enough. Let’s wrap up what has been one of the best overall Mays in a long time.
The Last Brazilian
Tony Kanaan’s final race did not have the outcomehe or his many fans hoped for. iy was evident eartly that he would struggle for a good result. Kanaan provided a highlight when he went into the grass to make a pass late in the race.
Kanaan summed up his day.
“I think I would do a disgrace to almost 400,000 people that were there that made me feel the way they did to say I’m sad. I had a laugh. Helio and I battling for 15th and 16th on the last lap like we’re going for the lead. It was like, who’s playing pranks with us. We both went side by side on the backstretch after the checker and we saluted with each other, and I just told him actually I dropped a tear because of that, and he said, I did, too. It was a good day for me, man. What can I say? We cried on the grid. Yeah, not the result that we wanted. I went really aggressive on the downforce to start the race. It was wrong. Then I added downforce towards the end of the race and it was wrong. So it was just one of those days.”
With Kanaan gone, Helio Castroneves is the last Brazilain driver in the series, which at one had almost a third of the grid representing the Sout American nation. Castroneves is 48 years old. he may e a 500 only driver next year, but fior how many years will he be here?
Rough Day for Rookies
Benjamin pederesen wasthe highest finishing rookie in 21st, taken out in a front stretch crashon the lap 196 restart. None of the rookies were running ay yjr finish. Pedersen will likely win Rookie of the Year tonigh.
R C Enerson finsihed 32nd with mechanical problems. Abel Motorsports can’t be too disappointed. It was a hug accomplishment to qualify as solidly as they did. The race was abonus for this very young program. I hope they come back nexrt year.
Agustin Canapinio ran a good race which unfortuntely ended in a collision with Pato O’Ward. he was headed for a very good result. I am impressed by how quickly Canapinoi has adapted to Indycar.
Sring Ray Robb got caught up in the marbles on lap 90, ausig the first yellow.Robb is still learning Indycar, and I hope he can turn things around in the second half of the season.
Rahal’s Forgettable May
Graham Rahal failed to qualify for the race. he got a reprieve when Dreyer &Reinbold and Cusick Motorsports asked him to sub for the injured Stefan Wilson. Rhahl’s miserable month got een worse when his car wouldn’t and had to be wheeled to his pit to change the battery. Rahal started the race two laps down and never caught up.
The entire rahal team didn’t fare much better. jack Harvey in 18th was their best result.
The Race
The ending aside, I thought this was one of the best 500s I’ve seen. I have been to a few of them. Once again, I did not see the 1911 race,-thanks for asking. Yesterday was fascinating for the great racing early and the strategy discussion I had with my friends in the stands. I loved how the first two yellows changed the pit strategy for some teams.
I agree with what winner Josef Newgarden said in his press confer3nce last night that the cars should be mnore difficult to drive, and then leader should nor be a sitting duck on restarts..
How to Celebrate a 500 Victory
Newgarden did it right. His post race celebration of unbridled joy was how winning the 500 should be handled. Yes the there are traditions, but they can wait. Indycar needs to allow the drivers to have a few moments of spontaneous exuberance after a win. We need more of this at every race rather thanhaving the driver sit inhis car until a television producer gives the okay to get out.
Pato
What does Pato O’Ward have to do to win an oval rtace? Stymied by a yellow flag in texas, only to be foiled by red flags ijn the 500. O’Ward had the strategy figured out, and if the race had not been halted, he would be the winner.
I hope he sweeps Iowa and wins Gateway. It has to be frustrating for him. O’Ward could potentially have had his third win of the season Sunday.
I have yet to watch the replay and I ight have some comments on that later this week. I’m off to the Victory Celebration in a bit, then we look to Detroit.
hank you for followingduring May. It wa sone of the best Mays I remmebr.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 