Highlights of Indy 500 Public Drivers’ Meeting
The 92nd "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 25. The race will be broadcast live on ABC and the IMS Radio Network beginning at noon. ESPN2 will air an additional hour of pre-race coverage beginning at 11 a.m.
2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Andretti Green Racing co-owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree accepted a "Baby Borg" trophy from Alfred Webber, president and general manager of Borg Warner Morse Tec and Borg Warner Thermal Systems.
Franchitti accepted his Baby Borg along with a $130,000 check via video as he was unable to attend Saturday's ceremonies. The Baby Borg is a miniature replica of the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, which bears the bas-relief likeness, name and average speed of every Indianapolis 500 winner.
In addition, Andretti, Green and Savoree were presented their Firestone winning car owner's ring, crafted by Herff Jones. Mark Emkes, chief executive office of Firestone Racing, was on hand to make the presentation.
Franchitti received his Herff Jones winning driver ring earlier in the month, along with a plaque from the American Dairy Association. Deb Osza, general manager of Milk Promotion Services of Indiana, introduced the video segment where Liz Woodruff presented the "Winners Drink Milk" award to Franchitti.
Roger Bailey, the executive director of the Firestone Indy Lights Series, then presented Alex Lloyd his Herff Jones championship ring for winning the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights title.
Continuing its longstanding tradition with the Indianapolis 500, Ken Keltner of Herff Jones presented each of the 33 qualifiers of this year's race with their starter rings.
Making his 63rd Indianapolis 500 appearance, Andy Granatelli, the two-time winning car owner known for the famous turbine-powered "whoosh mobile" cars that raced in 1967 and 1968, presented Kim Smith with the Unsung Hero Award.
Smith, the owner of the National Car Sales affiliate in Indianapolis, has served as the coordinator of Chevrolet's fleet of Indianapolis Motor Speedway vehicles, including Pace Cars and safety trucks, since 1975.
Also honored at the annual drivers' meeting was Penske Racing owner Roger Penske, who has won 14 Indianapolis 500 titles as an owner. He was named the Roger McCluskey Award of Excellence winner, an honor given annually by the United States Auto Club. The sanctioning body's top honor is named in memory of the former USAC executive vice president and champion driver. USAC president Kevin Miller presented Penske with the award.
Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations for the Indy Racing League, concluded the drivers' meeting by discussing race rules and guidelines with the drivers.