INDIANAPOLIS — Josef Newgarden's face will forever be remembered in auto racing history.
The two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion celebrated his 2023 Indianapolis 500 victory on Dec. 15 with the reveal of his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
“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," Newgarden said. “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.”
Newgarden won his first Indy 500 in May, holding off then-defending winner Marcus Ericsson and adding one of the most coveted accomplishments to his racing resume.
His celebration was one for the history books as well, as the 32-year-old from Tennessee climbed through a gate in the catch fence near the historic IMS "Yard of Bricks" and made his way into the crowd to celebrate his victory with fans.
PHOTOS: Josef Newgarden wins 2023 Indy 500
Newgarden finished fifth in points in the 2023 IndyCar championship race and recorded three other wins in addition to his Indianapolis 500 victory. He won four out of five oval events during last year's championship, establishing himself as a consistent championship threat before a serious of poor finishes in three out of the final four races knocked him out of the championship hunt.
Prior to 2023, Newgarden's best finish in the "500" was a third place finish in 2016. He has also expanded into stock cars in recent seasons, running select races in the SRX series.