Rosenqvist Becomes First Bearded Face on Borg‑Warner Trophy
The life-size clay likeness will be reduced and cast in silver to join the trophy, marking a year that led to a move to Arrow McLaren as he prepares to defend his Indy 500 title.
Overview
- Felix Rosenqvist, who won the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2026 by a record 0.0233-second margin, visited sculptor Will Behrends in Tryon, North Carolina to see the life-size clay model of his face.
- Behrends, the longtime Borg‑Warner sculptor since 1990, will refine the clay, reduce it to the correct scale and cast the final likeness in silver to be attached permanently to the 110-pound Borg‑Warner Trophy.
- Rosenqvist will be the first winner depicted with a full beard on the trophy, a notable visual first among the more than 109 previous faces that mostly show clean-shaven features or mustaches.
- The clay session was a personal moment for Rosenqvist, who praised the likeness for getting small details right and said the process helped him reflect on a hectic season that included becoming a father.
- Rosenqvist used his Indy 500 win to negotiate a move from Meyer Shank Racing to Arrow McLaren and has begun team visits and simulator work while a hometown celebration in Värnamo is planned for December.