The Face Of A Winner: Indianapolis 500 Winner Marcus Ericsson Meets Himself Throughout Borg-Warner Trophy Sculpting Session

It didn’t take lengthy for Marcus Ericsson to appreciate that successful the 106^thIndianapolis 500 will change his life. It struck him whereas he was consuming the normal bottle of milk in victory lane on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Could 29, 2022.

“It was nearly like chaos there,” Ericsson recalled. “You are attempting to soak up that you just received the race and see all of the individuals from the crew, then you definately see my girlfriend, my mother and pa had been there. It’s an unreal feeling attempting to take all of it in.

“Then, you drink the milk and that image of pouring the milk on you is such a traditional sports activities photograph. You’ll be able to’t imagine you’re doing it, truly.

“That, to me, was one of many strongest moments I bear in mind, consuming that milk.

“I do remorse it after doing media 5 hours afterward. That milk was beginning to bitter on the uniform.”

The “Bottle of Milk” was Ericsson’s preliminary reminiscence of successful the Indianapolis 500. However on Tuesday, September 20, Ericsson received an opportunity to grasp the lasting reminiscence that comes with successful the “Biggest Race within the World.”

It is the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, maybe probably the most iconic sports activities trophies on the earth together with the NHL’s Stanley Cup. It options the face of each successful driver of the Indianapolis 500 all the best way again to Ray Harroun in 1911. Every driver’s face is a raised Bass Reduction picture solid in sterling silver that’s connected to the trophy.

There may be one raised face solid in gold. It belongs to Tony Hulman, the person who saved the Indianapolis 500 from extinction when he bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from earlier proprietor Eddie Rickenbacker in 1945.

It was 10 years earlier than that the Borg-Warner Trophy made its first look in Victory Lane with the successful driver of the Indianapolis 500.

From Louis Meyer in 1936 all the best way to Ericsson at this yr’s 500, the Borg-Warner Trophy is in Victory Lane to greet the driving force of the Indianapolis 500.

It’s a second in historical past.

Ericsson took his subsequent step in having his face stand the check of time when he met with famed sculptor and artist William Behrends at his studio in picturesque Tryon, North Carolina.

It’s a small city positioned close to the North Carolina/South Carolina Stateline within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Famed British actor David Nivens found the peacefulness and great thing about Tryon within the Fifties and was a daily customer to the Pine Crest Inn when he wished to chill out.

This serene setting is ideal for an artist and has been Behrends house for almost 60 years when his household moved south from Wisconsin.

Due to BorgWarner and Behrends, I had an opportunity to affix Ericsson and his girlfriend Iris Tritsaris on September 20 for a “Stay Research” involving Ericsson and the famed sculptor. It’s the newest step within the lengthy course of in creating the face that may go on the Borg-Warner Trophy.

On at the present time, Ericsson got here face-to-face with himself when he noticed his life-sized head sculpted in clay.

“Marcus, that is the clay examine I did of you from the images we took the day after the race,” Behrends mentioned as he eliminated the wraps. “We’re going to work on this collectively.”

An enormous smile got here throughout Ericsson’s face. Tritsaris’ eyes grew with amazement.

“That’s nice,” Ericsson mentioned. “Wonderful. Good job. I feel it’s wonderful. It’s a bit bizarre seeing myself. I can undoubtedly see that it’s me, however it’s wonderful to see it.

“I feel that’s so cool.”

Tritsaris mentioned, “It’s so good. It’s undoubtedly you.”

“This seems to be higher than actual, that’s wonderful,” Ericsson mentioned. “It seems to be actually, actually good. It’s wonderful.

“It seems to be higher than the true Marcus.

“I don’t wish to say higher than anticipated as a result of I anticipated it to be nice. I feel it’s wonderful. It’s much more actual than I anticipated. I understand how good William is, however it’s not till you see one in all your self that you just notice how excellent it’s.

“It’s actually good.”

This a part of the method is comparatively new. It started with Juan Pablo Montoya, after he received his second Indianapolis 500 in 2015. Montoya was the primary driver to return to Behrends’ studio to take a seat in whereas the sculptor labored on the finer particulars of Montoya’s face.

Due to BorgWarner, which unveiled the everlasting Borg-Warner Trophy on the 1936 Indianapolis 500, the reside examine has continued with 2016 winner Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato in 2017 and 2020, Will Energy in 2018, Simon Pagenaud in 2019 and Helio Castroneves in 2021.

Behrends has created the face for each driver on the Borg-Warner Trophy since Arie Luyendyk received his first Indianapolis 500 in 1990.

The final 33 pictures on the trophy have been created by Behrends.

“The primary time I went to the race was 1989, however 1990 was the primary time I received to do the picture and the winner was Arie Luyendyk,” Behrends instructed me.

That’s additionally the identical yr Ericsson was born in Sweden.

“Once I was approached to do his, I believed, ‘Wow.’ Sure, I wished to do it,’” Behrends continued. “I didn’t know on the time I might do it for multiple yr. At the moment, they supposed to have a unique particular person do it yearly.

“For some cause, they caught with me over time.

“That first one was Arie Luyendyk, and he had lengthy hair. I did the hair. It was completely different than the opposite ones. I didn’t know if BorgWarner would really like that.”

BorgWarner cherished Behrends’ work a lot, his relationship with the automotive merchandise and know-how firm has continued into its fourth decade.

Creating the face begins the day after the race when Behrends spends time with the driving force and takes various pictures from completely different angles. Behrends makes use of these pictures for the clay examine and for the precise measurement work.

“I do that step in his presence to counterpoint the work and be taught the face higher,” Behrends mentioned. “It makes for a greater product, having him right here and with the ability to do a life-size clay examine earlier than I start the smaller picture that goes on the trophy.”

Behrends will use the full-size, clay head when he begins the method of the wax course of. He makes use of the bigger head as a reference level when he begins the meticulous strategy of decreasing the face to in regards to the measurement of an egg.

“I’ll begin over once more, so I exploit this to check the face,” Behrends mentioned. “I do all the pieces the old school manner. I’m very uncommon for a sculptor, I don’t use 3-D scans.

“What I do can take a yr to complete.”

As soon as the wax course of is accomplished, he’ll use the identical kind of plaster that’s used for dental molds to create one other face in a dense, plaster-like materials. That enables him to easy and create extra element. Then, he makes one other wax determine of the face. That bass-relief picture is solid in Sterling Silver.

When Behrends will get that again from the silversmith, he is ready to put the ultimate touches on that Sterling Silver face with the very small sculpting instruments that he makes use of.

At that time, the face is then connected to the trophy and is often unveiled someday in late November or early December.

There’s a risk the Borg-Warner Trophy may journey to Sweden, however these discussions and particulars haven’t been accomplished. The Borg-Warner Trophy traveled to Japan with Sato after his first Indy 500 win in 2017 and went to France with Pagenaud when he received the Indianapolis 500 in 2019.

“Actually good job,” Ericsson instructed Behrends. “I’m very impressed.”

Behrends was making notes for the construction of Ericsson’s face comparable to bone construction and brow.

Ericsson requested Behrends questions in regards to the course of and marveled at how effectively the sculptor is at his craft.

“It’s actually a strategy of memorizing the face,” Behrends mentioned. “To have a clay head as a reference level is essential.”

Subsequent yr might be Behrends’ 50^th yr as a sculptor.

He’s the longest-running sculptor within the historical past of the Borg-Warner Trophy and maintains an impressive consumer relationship with BorgWarner.

It’s greater than a consumer relationship with a company, he’s nearly a part of the household.

“I’m so keen on BorgWarner and the individuals there,” Behrends mentioned. “It actually is sort of a household scenario. In recent times, it’s extra collegial and extra welcome yearly. I couldn’t be extra appreciative of BorgWarner and the tradition of that group.”

Frederic Lissalde is the CEO of BorgWarner and may be very supportive of its IndyCar program. BorgWarner builds the entire turbochargers which might be used on each IndyCar engine.

“You don’t must be round BorgWarner and their presence on the Indianapolis 500 yearly very lengthy to appreciate they take it very significantly,” Behrends mentioned. “They cherish this trophy and the historical past and stewardship of it for a few years.

“They’re very severe about it and ensure it’s appreciated as the enduring trophy that it’s.”

When Michelle Collins grew to become BorgWarner’s Director International of Advertising and marketing and Communications, she noticed the trophy as a priceless asset to assist elevate the profile of BorgWarner. Alongside, with publicist Steve Shunck, they’ve aggressively marketed the Borg-Warner Trophy and its significance to the Indy 500.

“I can’t say sufficient the present William Behrends has to make these faces so lifelike, it’s actually beautiful,” Collins instructed me on Tuesday. “There’s something particular the best way he does it together with his personal fingers and his personal instruments. It’s a misplaced artwork. Who can do that and create it like he does?”

Collins loves seeing the expression on the faces of the successful drivers when the clay head is unveiled.

“We attempt to seize the essence of the driving force and that’s what we attempt to do on this particular setting that we’ve,” Collins mentioned. “The drivers appear fairly overwhelmed after they see it for the primary time.

“What’s actually neat is you get to the know the driving force as an individual and never simply on the skilled stage. That’s very particular to me.

“Who we’re as a crew, as an organization has respect for the previous, however we additionally look to the longer term. We take this custom very significantly and have an obligation to take care of it and protect it. For us, that’s an honor and privilege to do.

“The identical turbos which might be used on Indy automobiles, can be bought from our aftermarket crew — Engineered For Racing (EFR). Folks can get a bit of the Indianapolis 500, too, even when they aren’t an IndyCar driver. That’s particular to us.”

BorgWarner continues one of many nice traditions in sports activities with its involvement within the Indianapolis 500. However the Michigan-based firm can be closely concerned in the way forward for the automotive business.

On September 20, BorgWarner acquired the Hubei Surpass Solar Electrical (SSE) – a number one firm within the DC Quick Charging market. It can complement current BorgWarner European and North American charging by extending its footprint into China. It can additionally enhance the availability chain for priceless battery and charging supplies and belongings.

“This transaction makes good enterprise sense as we proceed to bolster our fast-charging capabilities globally,” Lissalde mentioned. “SSE will deliver enhanced choices whereas supporting Charging Ahead, our technique to speed up our progress in electrification. We look ahead to welcoming their gifted crew to BorgWarner.”

BorgWarner additionally makes batteries and built-in drive items to organize for the longer term.

“We’ve got a reverence for the place we got here from, however must evolve for the longer term,” Collins mentioned. “If racing strikes to electrification, we’ll be there to assist assist it.”

What’s most outstanding about BorgWarner, sponsors come, and sponsors go, however it’s pretty outstanding that the corporate, in varied types, has been a relentless on the Indianapolis 500 trophy since 1936.

“They’re an organization that has been round for greater than a century and their dedication has been round since 1936,” Behrends mentioned. “That’s pretty outstanding.

“I’m lucky to have the ability to do that yearly as a sculptor and a race fan. My spouse and I understand how lucky we’re. To know that lengthy after I end as a sculptor, these faces will stay. I’m proud, very proud.”

For the primary time since 2019, Behrends received to sculpt a brand new face on the trophy. In 2020, Takuma Sato received the Indianapolis 500 for the second time in his profession after his first Indy 500 win in 2017. In 2021, Helio Castroneves grew to become the fourth, four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.

Castroneves grew to become the primary driver that Behrends sculpted their face for all 4 of their Indy 500 victories.

“Yearly, I attempt to do one thing completely different to it,” Behrends mentioned. “That is the one factor I do that happens greater than as soon as. Every little thing else is one in all a form. I wish to deliver one thing completely different and distinct to the driving force.

“On the Borg-Warner Trophy, I all the time attempt to do a greater job than the one I did final yr. However each one in all these that I do is exclusive. I need every one to be very distinctive in their very own manner.

“I need anyone standing 10 toes away to have a look at the trophy and say, ‘That’s Marcus Ericsson’s face.’ It has life, it has the exuberance he felt when successful the race. It has all the pieces that win was to him.

“I need it to face out.”

From the egg-sized faces on the Borg-Warner Trophy, Behrends has additionally created bigger than life statues that stand outdoors of Oracle Park, house of the San Francisco Giants. These embrace Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry. At Petco Park, house of the San Diego Padres, Behrends has sculptures of Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman.

The statues immortalize the nice gamers from these groups.

His newest baseball statue was unveiled in April when Behrends created a statue of New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver at CitiField in Flushing Meadow, New York.

Behrends has additionally been commissioned to create statues of Vice Presidents of the US which might be on show at the US Capitol Constructing.

After the reside examine at Behrends’ studio was accomplished, Ericsson and the Borg-Warner Trophy moved to the skin of the Tryon Theater on this artsy resort group that payments itself because the “Friendliest City within the South.”

Fifty years in the past, David Nivens’ arrival in Tryon was large information as a result of he was a well-known worldwide actor.

On Tuesday, it was Ericsson who had his identify in vivid lights on the Tryon Theater marquee.

“BorgWarner Congratulates 2022 Indy 500 Winner Marcus Ericsson. Chip Ganassi Racing. Huski Chocolate.”

Ericsson posed for pictures in his driving uniform. Tritsaris was sporting a skin-tight, quick black gown.

To finish the theater theme was a large field of popcorn. The 2 playfully tossed popcorn at one another, one kernel at a time, attempting to get it into one another’s mouth like a basketball going by means of the ring.

When it was throughout, Tritsaris planted a kiss on high of the Borg-Warner Trophy, leaving a lipstick stain on high of the famed Sterling Silver trophy.

“Successful the five hundred is wonderful, it’s arduous to place into phrases, however all of the stuff you get to do after is what makes it much more particular,” Ericsson instructed me when it was throughout. “The Sculpture and getting your face on the trophy is the very best factor with it. To return right here and spend time and get to know you may be very particular. I can’t wait to see the ultimate product.

“We will make this a convention as effectively. I’m fantastic with that.”