Special Borg-Warner Trophy Edition With 109th Indianapolis 500 Winner Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi and BorgWarner’s Michelle Collins

Bruce Martin:
Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, as we continue our sixth season of giving IndyCar fans an inside look at the most exciting form of racing on the planet, the NTT IndyCar Series. We welcome back our friends from Penske Truck Rental, who return as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. Penske Truck Rental helps Pit Pass Indy bring you the inside stories of IndyCar from the paddock, to the racetrack, to the highways and streets of America. And this season, Penske Truck Rental and Pit Pass Indy will help celebrate Team Penske's 60th anniversary. We hope everyone had a great break for the Easter holiday as IndyCar continues into the 2026 season after four races and five weekends in March. The Easter break gives us a chance to catch up on a big event that happened before the season started at Phoenix Raceway during the Unser IndyCar Open Test, February 17th to the 18th. Borg Warner had a special ceremony on February 17th to present 109th Indianapolis 500 winning driver Alex Pellot and winning team owner Chip Ganassi with their Baby Borg trophies for winning last year's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The full-sized Borg Warner Trophy is a permanent trophy that is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum that features the faces of every winning driver of the Indianapolis 500 going all the way back to the first winner, Ray Haroon, in 1911. The Baby Borg is a miniature trophy the driver and team owner gets to keep. Please note, because this interview was conducted in mid-February, some of the questions looking forward have already been answered. For instance, Alex Pelos asked about opening the season as the defending winner of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which he did on March 1st. But to keep the pace of the interview, we have left them in this episode of Pit Pass Indy. So let's kick off the Baby Borg celebration with this exclusive interview with four-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and 109th Indianapolis 500 winning driver Alex Pillow for Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. I can't necessarily greet my next guest the way I always do by saying hello, Alex, because I'm not there in person, but I guess I can over the phone, so hello, Alex! Hey Bruce. Special night for Alex Palou. You got your baby Borg trophy. This is the one you get to keep for winning the 109th Indianapolis 500. I was with you when the face was unveiled on the Borg Warner trophy on November 19th at Indianapolis. You don't get to keep that trophy, though. This one you get to keep. What's it like now to have one of your own?

Alex Palou: Yeah, very exciting day, honestly. Like I was telling everyone that I thought that during May I was going to get my baby work so I could have it at home and just see it at home every day. And then they said, oh, no, Alex, unfortunately, we need to make your phase and then you need to wait for a little bit. So, yeah, I'm happy that finally this day is here, finally that I can take it home. It's one of those days that makes you remember and realize how big of a day we had back in May and gets me very excited for the next one. So yeah, I'm very happy that I'll have another hardware to look when I wake up in the morning.

Bruce Martin: You have a lot of trophies, but where does this one rank in terms of significance and artwork?

Alex Palou: I mean, this is, first of all, it's beautiful. Um, but then the significance of it, it's, it's insane. So, um, uh, I'm fortunate enough that, uh, I have four after cups at home and now I have these baby work. Um, it's like having childs, like I cannot decide, or I cannot say which one is my favorite. Um, just because they might get mad. But honestly, it's super special and it's going to look insane at home.

Bruce Martin: The ceremony was held at Phoenix Raceway after the first day of the Unser IndyCar preseason open test. It might not be Indianapolis, but it's an oval and there's an awful lot of IndyCar history at the Phoenix Raceway oval. So in some ways, that's a track that was special to your team owner, Chip Ganassi. It's a track that's special to IndyCar. Like I said, it might not be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it's a pretty significant racetrack in the history of IndyCar. So what was it like to get your baby Borg at Phoenix Raceway?

Alex Palou: Super cool, and honestly, I was shocked by the amazing facilities this track has. I think it's super well done and I'm very excited that we're going to race here, see how our weekend together with NASCAR is, see if we can get new fans. It kind of worked out really well because I was obviously on the oval mindset on like driving and just thinking on setup and so on. And then getting the baby work here today just kind of made a lot of sense.

Bruce Martin: In between your face being unveiled on the permanent BorgWarner trophy on November 19th at Commission Row in Indianapolis, and today getting the baby Borg trophy given to you at Phoenix Raceway, you had a little tour that you took with the big BorgWarner trophy when you took it to Spain. How did that go? And how excited were some of your fans in Spain to see that trophy?

Alex Palou: Yeah, that was super cool. I mean, I believe it was the only the third time ever that the Borg Warner traveled overseas like to be able to organize that and to be the reason why that trophy is traveling from the IMS museum to Spain it's pretty cool so I think it shocked a lot of people there in Spain of like how big of a deal is how big the trophy is as well and I think not many people realize that your face, the face of the winner, it's going to be there forever. It's part of the trophy. So that was a very cool experience for me to be able to share it with people in Spain that might not be as familiar with IndyCar and the Indy 500.

Bruce Martin: Your face on the baby Borg is bigger than your face on the original BorgWarner trophy. So, is that a chance to really see it in even more detail, the work that sculptor William Behrens was able to do?

Alex Palou: You think it's bigger? I think it's pretty much the same size.

Bruce Martin: Maybe it appears to be bigger because the trophy is smaller.

Alex Palou: Yeah, it appears. At least there's not that many faces that you go crazy looking at amazing drivers that you are surrounded by. But yeah, honestly, it's very cool that they do that small detail of like getting your own face on the baby work. You cannot fit more than yours because it's so small. But yeah, it's really cool.

Bruce Martin: When you look at your face, which was taken basically the day after the race ended, what does that face say back to Alex Pillow?

Alex Palou: i can see the smile i can see that that smile is not one of those smiles of like um yeah smile for a picture it's just smile of happiness um i can see it around my eyes that are like very um uh straight just from smiling all around so yeah it reminds me of that uh the happiness i had that day that i still carry with me but uh still seeing it on a on a picture or on a on the face it's pretty cool. Where are you going to display the baby Borg? I have a spot at home where at the basement I have the four Astro cups and I have plenty of space for these Baby Borg and more to come.

Bruce Martin: We are within the 100 days to the 110th Indianapolis 500. So at some point here after your ticket is unveiled, the face of Alex Palou on the ticket for the 110th Indianapolis 500 as the previous year's winner, then a lot of the celebrations officially come to an end. Is that when it really becomes obvious that the party's over? I have to set my focus on what it takes to win it again.

Alex Palou: Yeah, and honestly, I kind of started already, although we still have amazing events like today and the ticket unveil. It's important not to lose the focus, right? Like to be, OK, that was very cool. It was an amazing day, probably one of the best of my entire life. But in order to get it again, to feel that happiness and excitement again, we need to focus on on 2026. So I'm very excited for the ticket unveil for those 300,000 people to see our face on the on the ticket and our car. But yeah, we we want to win again here in 2026.

Bruce Martin: Earlier in the day that you got the baby board, you were part of the Unser IndyCar pre-season test at Phoenix Raceway. It's one of the few tracks that you haven't competed on in IndyCar, but it's a track deeply rooted in the history of IndyCar. What are your thoughts of the one-mile Phoenix Raceway oval?

Alex Palou: I was very surprised, honestly. I really liked how, as I said before, the facilities are. is how the car feels and how the track allows you to push and to be like aggressive with the car and how you drive. So I really love it. I had a great time. I had a good day today. We were not the fastest. I think there's a couple of cars that are just a little bit ahead of us now, but I'm excited that we come back tomorrow that we can make a couple of setup changes and heading into a race, hopefully we can be fighting for the top spot.

Bruce Martin: And since we last spoke, IndyCar has added the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. to the schedule. It's going to be a huge event. It's going to be around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with all of the great monuments in the nation's capital. How important of a race is that? How proud are you to be able to participate in that event for what it means to the United States and just what it's going to mean to IndyCar?

Alex Palou: Huge. I mean, I think it's going to be one of those remarkable events that we're going to have not only in the season, but I think like one of those events that mark IndyCar. Hopefully that brings a lot of new people to discover IndyCar as well and a new market. I've never been to DC so I'm very excited to go there to learn a little bit more about the history of the country and to be more part of it. I'm excited for that event. Hopefully we can have an amazing show once again and hopefully we can be fast, which is the most important.

Bruce Martin: And in just a couple of days, the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season is going to begin at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. You're the defending winner. I always tell everybody that that first victory really got you on your path to the hot streak that you started the season on and you never really cooled off. And that is really one of the big reasons why you won eight of the 17 races in 2025. So what's your outlook and going down there and winning it again?

Alex Palou: Yeah, I can't wait. I love that track. I love that we're starting now, that finally the time to go back on track is here. And hopefully we can have the same result that we had last year. I think it's always one of those chaotic races that everybody starts from zero and starts like super excited. So yeah, hopefully we can have just a really, really good start of the season and carry that momentum.

Bruce Martin: And finally, you have a young daughter, Lucia, but now you have a baby Borg. So do you feel almost like you've got a second baby in the family?

Alex Palou: Yeah, in a funny way, yeah. At least this one, I know how to treat it. It's not like Lucia that keeps on changing every day. Like that kid is evolving, like all the kids, but it's crazy when you think that you got your setup ready for that, suddenly she evolves and she likes different things and you need to evolve as well. So it's a constant chase. But it's super fun and it brings so much joy. So, yeah, I'm glad that I have two now.

Bruce Martin: Well, Alex, the good thing about the Baby Borg is you don't have to change it and you don't have to get up every couple hours. So that's one good thing. You're going to be able to get a little more sleep than maybe you got when Lucia was much younger. For sure. But Alex, hey, congratulations on getting the Baby Borg. What every race driver in IndyCar races for is to win the Indianapolis 500. I imagine you're probably going to get another Baby Borg or two. throughout your career, but you always got to get the first one first, but good luck in 2026. I'll see you down at St. Pete and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you so much, Chris. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Josef Newgarden: Hey everyone, this is two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin: Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. Our next guest is one of the most successful team owners in Indianapolis 500 history. It's Chip Ganassi, whose team has won the Indy 500 seven times, including six times since 2000. Roger Penske is the winningest team owner in the Indianapolis 500 with 20. Ganassi's first Indy 500 win as a team owner came with Patrick Racing in 1989 with Emerson Fittipaldi as the driver. Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2000 Indy 500 for Chip Ganassi Racing, followed by Scott Dixon in 2008, Dario Franchitti in 2010 and 2012, Marcus Ericcson in 2022, and Palau in 2025. Here is my exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview with Chip Ganassi from February 17th. It's the annual Baby Borg presentation, and it seems that an annual winner of this thing is our next guest. It's team owner Chip Ganassi. Chip, you've got a seventh Baby Borg. I'm sure you've got plenty of room back in the offices and at the shop for a few more, but this has to be one of the greatest trophies you can get in IndyCar.

Chip Ganassi: Oh, no question, Bruce. I mean, you know, to get presented with your own baby board trophy is quite an accolade. And it's certainly, yeah, having our seventh one, I still have a few more to catch my pal Roger, but it's certainly a big day for our team. And more importantly, it's a celebration of Alex and the Indy 500 that he had in 2025. And we're solely focused on 2026 now and the season coming up.

Bruce Martin: You bring that up, and that's a good point, because last Friday, Doug Bowles, the president of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, held the annual 100 Days to the Indianapolis 500. We're closing in. We're less than three months now from being able to have the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24th. So I guess a lot of the celebration from 2025 is over. And what will it take, once again, to have your car get there in victory lane at the end of the Indianapolis 500?

Chip Ganassi: Obviously, when you go to Indianapolis, you have to have more than a fast car. You have to have good pit stops. You have to have a good strategy. You have to have a little bit of lady luck on your side. You have to get through a lot of traffic and get through a season of racing in one day, if you will. It's not impossible. It's been done before. It can be done again.

Bruce Martin: I saw a great stat today about Alex's record at the Indianapolis 500 since joining Chip Ganassi. He has finished every lap of every Indianapolis 500 driving your car. And that really shows how important it is to basically have a perfect race in order to be in position to win something that even perfection may not win the race, but it certainly puts you in a good spot.

Chip Ganassi: Well, you have to first finish to finish first. So, you know, we try to focus on being there at the finish and then being at the front is just an added bonus.

Bruce Martin: When you won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time as a team owner in 1989 with Emerson Fittipaldi, I don't even know if they gave out baby boards yet or if they were still giving out the plaque.

Chip Ganassi: Right, right. I think you're right. I think you're right.

Bruce Martin: So did you get a plaque or a baby board?

Chip Ganassi: Yeah, I got a plaque.

Bruce Martin: So now you get this beautiful sterling silver miniature version of the BorgWarner trophy.

Chip Ganassi: Silver is expensive these days.

Bruce Martin: Yes, but it's artfully crafted face of the winner that William Barron sculpts all the time and when you sit and look at the permanent BorgWarner trophy and see all those faces that are Chip Ganassi Racing drivers looking back at you, Do you feel like they're telling you something about thanking you for the success that you were able to give them a car to win the race?

Chip Ganassi: Well, I don't know what they're telling me, but I do know that it's pretty special to have all those drivers come through our doors and end up with their caricature there on their bust on the Bort Warner trophy. And they know that, believe me, each and every one of those guys Never forget those days and never forget what a special moment it is to win the Indianapolis 500 and to be a part of. of be a part of it. On that day, you have the best team and it's great to be a part of something like that.

Bruce Martin: Winning the Indianapolis 500 is certainly a very special accomplishment in racing, but to be able to win an Indianapolis 500 and an IndyCar Series championship in the same season, such as you did in 2025, how special is that? And how rare is it? You've done it a few times, but to be able to accomplish that, it's got to be the best that the team owner can hope for entering a season.

Chip Ganassi: Certainly, certainly is, you know, to win championships and win the Indy 500 is pretty special. And, you know, we've done it before and we're going to do it again.

Bruce Martin: Two of your baby Borgs came with a driver named Dario Franchitti. Dario works on your team. Dario is also going to get back in racing with a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg, coming up here for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. What do you think of that? I mean, it's been a long time since Dario's raced, and I know that driving a race car has never really left any driver once they call it their career over. But Dario's going to get one more shot to drive a race vehicle. What are your thoughts on that?

Chip Ganassi: Well, let's just say that, you know, you're going to have to ask Dario that. I think it's a good thing if you guys want to get in and have some fun. I don't know how how serious it is of how much harder, how hard he's going to work at it. But I'm happy he's doing that. That's what he wants to do, more power to him. For me personally, I'm happy in the seat I'm in.

Bruce Martin: And also goes to show the friendship that he had with Jimmy Johnson, a former Chip Ganassi racing driver in IndyCar, of course, a legendary seven time NASCAR Cup Series champion. But it really goes to show just the great friendship that Dario has with Jimmy Johnson. Yes.

Chip Ganassi: And he's made plenty over the years. And we all have in this great sport. We've all made a lot of friends. And we're fortunate to be able to spend time with him. And if it's in a truck race, in St. Petersburg, so be it.

Bruce Martin: Speaking of friendship, Alex Pillow has made a lot of friends in IndyCar. Maybe there's some people that may not consider him a friend, the guys that keep getting beat by him every Sunday. But when you just see how much this guy's accomplished since he joined IndyCar, there was some pretty good expectations. We heard of Alex Pillow over in Europe, but I don't think any of us expected these types of results. How much would you say he's really moved the mark?

Chip Ganassi: Yeah, I think you're right. These guys don't come along every day like this. You're talking about a generational guy and he's taken the series by storm. And I hope it keeps going that way.

Bruce Martin: And our final question with Chip Ganassi. Heading back to Phoenix, IndyCar's back at a track that was a big time track when you were a race driver and it's been a big time track in the history of IndyCar. Haven't been there since 2018, but you're going to be there on March the 7th. How important is it to be back?

Chip Ganassi: Yeah, I mean, obviously, Bruce, this place has a huge, huge IndyCar history. I go back to the days of Dennis Wood. And, you know, when he ran this place and, you know, I remember coming in here testing in the off season before they had a good bridge here. We used to have to go cross the river about a mile up the upper river here. And when they would always wash out here in the wintertime with the, you know, the Gila River, whatever it is, I think they're out there. And so I have quite a history here myself. You know, but, but, you know, IndyCar has a history here in Phoenix. This was sort of one of the West Coast, uh, uh, stalwarts for many years. Uh, they raced twice a year. In fact, in the early eighties, I remember, uh, when I first got involved in IndyCar racing, they were here twice a year, once in the spring, once in the fall. So it's a good IndyCar market. So I think the fans are in for some excitement.

Bruce Martin: Well, we certainly look forward to that excitement, but once again, go out and celebrate another Baby Borg trophy that you've received. That trophy case of Chip Ganassi needs, basically he's going to need a separate building for all the trophies, but good luck in 2026. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy.

Chip Ganassi: Thank you, Bruce.

Bruce Martin: We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Scott McLaughlin: Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the number three team Penske Chevy, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin: Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. We wrap up this edition of Pit Pass Indy with Michelle Collins, BorgWarner Global Director, Marketing and Public Relations. BorgWarner has been a loyal supporter of the Indianapolis 500 for nearly 100 years. The BorgWarner trophy made its first appearance in Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 when Louis Meyer became the first three-time winner of the race in 1936. Since then, BorgWarner has increased its involvement and since 2010 has supplied all turbochargers to the NTT IndyCar series. Here is my exclusive PitPass Indy interview with Michelle Collins of BorgWarner. Back again to join us on Pit Pass Indy is Michelle Collins, the Global Director of Communications and Marketing for Borg Warner. Michelle, you had another big moment on February 17th when you were able to present Baby Borg trophies to the Indianapolis 500 winning driver, Alex Below, and team owner Chip Ganassi out at Phoenix Raceway. Different venue this time for that award. How did you like it?

Michelle Collins: It was really cool. You know, I had been to an event there a couple of years ago. I thought it was a great venue. And it just happened to work out this year, you know, when we're trying to coordinate with the team owner and driver and schedules. This just, the stars seem to align on it. So that's what we went with.

Bruce Martin: And I know that a lot of the things that BorgWarner does with the BorgWarner Trophy are really the highlights of your year and your position. You do a lot of work in other areas for the company, but this is something that you take a lot of pride in to be able to have this connection with the Indianapolis 500. But now that you've gotten to know Alex Pillow, how much different do you feel about him? Probably learned some things about him you didn't know before, especially when you guys went to Spain with the BorgWarner Trophy.

Michelle Collins: Yeah, it was great to get to know him better over this last year. Almost 12 months now since the winning of the Indy 500. And it was great to be in his hometown, meet some people that he's close with, meet some of his family, and just get a sense of him and kind of his natural environment there. Like you said, you get to know each other over the course of time and understand each other a little bit better. And just look forward to the year of celebration together. So it's been a great year. You know, when I go into a year with a new driver, I don't really have any preconceived notions or conceptions. I feel like every Indy 500 winner, every driver seems very down to earth, personable, approachable. And it was no different with Alex.

Bruce Martin: What have you learned about Alex that you didn't know before?

Michelle Collins: Well, I would say one day we did a podcast at a venue that was owned by a friend of his. And we didn't really know, even the folks from IndyCar didn't know kind of what we were going into. Well, it ended up being a venue that was not only a McLaren dealership, but then just this vast personal collection from every type of motorsports you could possibly imagine. And I would say Alex was pretty, what do I want to say, low-key about it. And then we go into this place and we were all just completely blown away. Probably one of the most amazing private personal collections I've ever seen. And this is a friend of his.

Bruce Martin: What strikes me about Alex that I find a little different is how appreciative he is of other people. There's not a lot of drivers in IndyCar racing or even in NASCAR that often thank a media member for interviewing them. But that's the way Alex is. He really has a personal connection with people. And did you discover that by being able to spend more time with him?

Michelle Collins: Oh, yes, for sure. I mean, he always expressed thanks over the course of the media tour or any other event we've done. And it's always so cool just to do those experiences with a first-time Indy 500 winner because they truly don't know what to expect. So, for example, if we say we're going to Will Barron's studio, for them, you know, they have no frame of reference of what that means. Maybe they've seen pictures from previous years or have talked to a driver who's experienced it before, but It's neat seeing a first-time winner of Indy experience all of that for the first time.

Bruce Martin: The season of giving, as I like to call it, with Borg Warner for the Indianapolis 500 winner comes to a close with the presentation of the Baby Borg trophies. Alex has one more thing to do for the Indianapolis 500, and that is to have his photo unveiled on the actual ticket. that everybody gets that attends the race. But the Borg-Warner part is over. So now you start planning for the 110th Indianapolis 500. Some of the things that Borg-Warner may do with that winner. What are some of the things that you're considering at the moment?

Michelle Collins: Yeah, well, we've been planning, you know, pretty much as soon as the race ends from the previous year. We're thinking about, like you said, the season of giving with the winning driver. but then also already looking forward to the next year. So as soon as that race is done, we're already in the works on contracting hotels, transportation, all sorts of different things like that. And we're taking a different approach on a few things this year. I don't want to spoil anything. But with it being also the 250th birthday of the US, this is going to be an extremely patriotic event. So we're just trying to also keep that in mind as we're planning things and making a great weekend experience for our guests.

Bruce Martin: From a corporate point of view, how important was it when IndyCar announced about a week ago that Honda and Chevrolet have signed new contracts that will begin in 2027 and will be multiple years in length?

Michelle Collins: I thought that was great when I saw that. You know, you hear things in the news and even some things that people from the companies had come out and said and really had me wondering, were they going to continue with this? You know, what were their thoughts or pain points? What would happen if they didn't sign an extension? So even as an IndyCar partner, I don't have any additional insight ahead of the announcement for that, but I was super happy to see that they had both signed on for an extension of the contract.

Bruce Martin: And with the new engine that will be part of the 2028 car when the new car is unveiled, what are some of the things that BorgWarner can do to help with that? Because it's going to be a 2.4 instead of a 2.2.

Michelle Collins: Yeah, I can't say too much about that. You know, they've definitely been in conversations with us and asked perspective on some things. So, of course, we're willing to help where we can.

Bruce Martin: At Borg Warner, would you like to see the rules get to the point where we can start setting new track records once again for the Indianapolis 500?

Michelle Collins: Yeah, I think that would be amazing. I mean, you see that even now in the Olympics. Just every time there's a competition, the bar is raised from the previous year. When you look at what people accomplished 20, 30 years ago, I'm sure they couldn't even imagine what the athletes of today would be accomplishing. So yeah, I think you just always look to set the bar higher.

Bruce Martin: You mentioned America's 250th birthday, the celebration that will be going on, highlighted on the 4th of July, Independence Day, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But the next month, August 21st to August 23rd, will be Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., the first time IndyCar has ever raced in Washington, D.C., and it's going to be around the National Mall. So from a corporate standpoint and from an American company standpoint, how do you feel about all that?

Michelle Collins: Yeah, I mean, BorgWarner will be celebrating their 100th birthday in 2028, so we're not too far behind with a big milestone coming up here. I think it's really great. I mean, it's super impressive having just announced that, that they're going to execute it by August, knowing especially the street course in Arlington, you know, has been in the works and under discussion for, you know, at least two years. So just this expedited timeline, it's going to be really interesting to see, you know, what they pull off, but it couldn't be a more iconic and patriotic venue for sure.

Bruce Martin: And of course, Borg Warner is involved in a lot of other businesses and industries around the world. What are some of the things that you're working on in 2026 from a business standpoint?

Michelle Collins: So we just had our 2025 fourth quarter and full year earnings results earlier this month on February 11th. And we announced, we had a great earnings call, we had a record number of business awards. But in addition to that, we announced that we're entering into this industrial segment to supply turbine generators to data centers in collaboration with a partner, TurboCell, which is part of a larger company called Endeavor. And this is really game-changing for us. I mean, it opens new venues for revenue, but it's also taking the expertise that we have in turbocharging, thermal management, power electronics, and putting that into an industrial solution. So we announced late last year that we're building a new facility in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and that's where this product will be produced out of next year.

Bruce Martin: And of course, one of the highlights of the entire year for BorgWarner is the Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day weekend. Every year you bring in guests and every year the winning driver is with the BorgWarner trophy and he has the winner's wreath, which is also presented by BorgWarner, put on him. So that's got to really be the one thing. It's got to be like Christmas Day to a lot of the people that work at that company.

Michelle Collins: Oh, yeah. And especially over the last few years where we've had more international drivers win, you know, they've been from countries where we have facilities. So I hear a lot from the colleagues in these different countries, wherever the winning driver is from, just their excitement, their pride that it's somebody from their country, and also the hope that, you know, we would bring the trophy there. So I just see it growing and growing more internationally every year that goes on.

Bruce Martin: Well, Michelle, congratulations on being able to present Alex Pillow and team owner Chip Ganassi with their Baby Borg trophies out in Phoenix. Sorry that I wasn't able to attend it this year, but hopefully next year I'll be there wherever you give the Baby Borgs to the winning driver. Good luck with Borg Warner in 2026 and thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you.

Michelle Collins: My pleasure.

Bruce Martin: That puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. We want to thank our guest, 109th Indianapolis 500 winning driver Alex Polow of Chip Ganassi Racing, seven-time Indy 500 winning team owner Chip Ganassi, and Michelle Collins, BorgWarner Global Director, Marketing and Public Relations, for joining us on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests help make Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, your path to victory lane in IndyCar. On the highways, the raceways, and every pit stop in between, Penske Truck Rental keeps you moving forward. Game ground with Penske. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at x, previously known as Twitter, at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcast. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Sean Ruhle-Hoffman and Nathan Corson.