The IndyCar’s crown jewel race honored the 32-year-old Tennessee native. The event, held at the Stutz Building in downtown Indianapolis, celebrated Josef Newgarden as the 75th individual winner of the prestigious race.
Sculptor Will Behrends crafted Newgarden’s sterling silver image. Behrends is responsible for crafting every Indy 500 winner’s likeness on the trophy since 1990. And after Newgarden’s final sitting at Behrends’s workshop in North Carolina, the emotional unveiling of the master craftsman’s work instantly connected Newgarden to the journey and sacrifices made by his #2 Team Penske Chevrolet to achieve victory.
“You just get emotional,” Newgarden told Motorsport.com as he reflected on the time, effort, and sacrifices made to secure this victory. “It’s what the face on the trophy represents.”
Photo by: Rick McIntyre
Josef Newgarden, IMS President Doug Boles and Michelle Collins of BorgWarner, with the BorgWarner trophy
It took Newgarden 12 attempts before winning “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and he is relishing every moment that follows.
“If you win, it’s more than just actually ending up in Victory Lane and celebrating the tradition there; the traditions continue 365 all the way to the next year. It’s just a great honor. The highest honor that you can have in motorsports, that’s what sticks out to me. And something I’m just incredibly proud to be a part of and happy to have stuck with it.
“You know, clearly the 500 doesn’t owe anybody anything and you never know if you’re going to have the opportunity to win that race. For me, it took 12 attempts, and you just never know. You never know how long it may take or when your opportunity or time may come, so sticking with it is important.”
Newgarden, also a two-time IndyCar Series champion, shared how the weight of capturing the two different achievements compares, too.
“The impact, it’s felt that it’s greater winning the Indianapolis 500,” Newgarden said. “The history and tradition is on the side of the Indy 500. When you look at the lineage of Indy car racing, it is tremendously significant to win the championship, but I think the 500 still takes the cake in that regard.
“It will always have history on its side as the most significant, the most historic. And you notice that. You see the impact of that by winning the race and everything that follows it all the way through.”
Michelle Collins,
