INDIANAPOLIS – When Marcus Ericsson’s sculpted, bass relief face cast in sterling silver was attached to the Borg-Warner Trophy, it was the 33rd face of an Indy 500-winning driver that had been created by sculptor William Behrends.
It’s Ericsson’s lasting tribute for winning the 106th Indianapolis 500, joining the legends of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway such as four-time winners AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves, and Ray Harroun, the first winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1911.
The number “33” is important at the Indianapolis 500. For much of its history, with a few rare exceptions, that is the number of cars on the starting grid for the world’s biggest race.
That got Michelle Collins, Global Director, Marketing and Public Relations, BorgWarner, thinking of honoring Behrends with his very own “Baby Borg” Trophy.