Montoya Likes His Likeness on Borg-Warner Trophy

Juan Pablo Montoya did an animated double take after locating the bas relief image from his 2000 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race win and comparing it to the likeness affixed to the base of the Borg-Warner Trophy for his 2015 victory.

"I think I've aged gracefully," he said.

Montoya, whose sterling-silver likeness was unveiled Dec. 9 during a ceremony at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, was the 102nd face added to the iconic trophy.

He became the ninth two-time winner of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" with a thrilling victory in the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. After starting 15th and having on-track issues that placed him near the rear of the field midway through the 200-lap race on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Montoya came back to take the lead for good on Lap 197 and hold off teammate Will Power by 0.1046 of a second. He is the 16th winner of the 500 Mile Race for Team Penske and owner Roger Penske.

"It is special to win it for Roger and what it means to everybody at Team Penske," Montoya said. "My face is on the trophy, but really everybody that worked on the car is there. It's a huge team effort, and most people don't realize how much the team is part of it."

The Borg-Warner Trophy, which is permanently on display at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum, features the face of all Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winners, including two years in which co-drivers assisted the primary driver to Victory Lane, and track owner Anton "Tony" Hulman.

Montoya was fresh off a win and a runner-up finish at his annual Carrera De Estrellas charity karting event in Colombia. He topped a star-filled field that included three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Gabby Chaves, race winner Carlos Munoz, Sebastian Saavedra and action sports star Travis Pastrana to win the opening race Dec. 5 around the Autodromo de Tocancipa, near Bogota. In the Dec. 6 finale, GP2 competitor Julien Leal held off Montoya and Chaves to take the win, after which the entire field of drivers climbed the fence to thank the Colombian fans who attended the races and raised money for the Formula Sonrisas (Formula Smiles) Foundation, led by Montoya and his wife, Connie.

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