Alex Palou is surrounded by Indianapolis 500 legends on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Scott R. LePage for BorgWarner Photo
The Month of May in Indianapolis in 2025 meant “Racers and Pacers” as Alex Palou won the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25 and the Indiana Pacers had a thrilling run in the NBA Playoffs that sent the team to the NBA Finals.
“Racers and Pacers” converged again on Wednesday, November 19 in Indianapolis. Palou’s sterling silvery Bas-Relief image on the Borg-Warner Trophy was unveiled at Commission Row at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A few hours later, Palou and the Borg-Warner Trophy were courtside as the Indiana Pacers hosted the Charlotte Hornets.
Palou becomes the 112th face on the Borg-Warner Trophy and the 76thdifferent driver to be attached to the legendary permanent trophy for the Indianapolis 500. Palou is the first driver from Spain to win the Indy 500 and the seventh driver to win the race for team owner Chip Ganassi.
“I’m honored to continue one of the greatest traditions in all of sports and unveil the latest addition to the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy,” said Michelle Collins, Global Director, Marketing and Public Relations BorgWarner. “Alex’s victory exemplifies that tenacity and constant commitment to excellence will result in success on and off the track. On behalf of everyone at BorgWarner, congratulations to Alex and the team at Chip Ganassi Racing.”
The event was hosted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, prior to the NBA contest across the street at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Palou is the four-time and reigning NTT IndyCar Series Champion who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing. Ganassi’s seven Indy 500 wins are second most behind a team owner. Roger Penske holds the record as team owner with 20 Indianapolis 500 victories.
Crafting Alex Palou’s Face On The Borg-Warner Trophy
Sculptor William Behrends sculpted Palou’s face, continuing his role that began with Arie Luyendyk’s Indy 500 win in 1990. Palou is the 36th face that Behrends has crafted for the Borg-Warner Trophy.
He began the process of sculpting by examining a series of 360-degree photos of the winner’s face and creating a life-size, clay sculpture. He then refined the sculpture during an in-person session with the winner at his studio in Tryon, North Carolina. The large model is then used as a reference to sculpt a smaller, oil-based clay version of the winner’s likeness. Once complete, the small clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before it’s sent to a jeweler where it is transformed into sterling silver. As the final step, the sterling silver face is polished and buffed before it’s permanently attached to the trophy.
The Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the most famous and iconic trophies in the world, representing a tremendous accomplishment of winning one of the most famous sporting events on Earth.
Alex Palou’s place in Indianapolis 500 history on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Scott R. LePage For BorgWarner Photo
Palou became part of that incredible list of winners with his victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of a sold-out crowd approaching 350,000 fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was Palou’s sixth start in the Indianapolis 500 after finishing fifth in 2024, fourth in 2023, ninth in 2022 and second in 2021 in his previous four starts with Chip Ganassi Racing. When he finished second in 2021, Helio Castroneves was the winner and became the fourth four-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
Just a few hours after he won the Indianapolis 500, Palou celebrated the win when he attended Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Finals game between the Pacers and the New York Knicks.
Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou is recognized during the second quarter between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Alex Palou And Chip Ganassi Will Get Their Own Borg-Warner Trophies In 2026
In early 2026, Palou will receive his “Baby Borg” – a miniature version of the Borg-Warner Trophy that he will get to keep. The original Borg-Warner Trophy is a permanent award that spends most of the year on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Team owner Ganassi will also receive a “Baby Borg” when Palou gets his in early 2026.
Palou’s presence later that night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse brought a winner to courtside as the Pacers entered the game with a 1-13 record and the Hornets began the game at 4-10.
The Pacers are playing the entire 2025-26 season without star Tyrese Haliburton, after he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder would win that game and clinch the NBA Championship.
But for at least one night, “Racers and Pacers” were back in the spotlight in downtown Indianapolis with the Borg-Warner Trophy in the spotlight.
Alex Palou with the Borg Warner Trophy at the yard of bricks after winning the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
