BorgWarner Awards Wheldon for Indy 500 Win

Tying your name to one of the most famous races in the world is a great way to advertise your business, and if you add the fact that your company is the one that hands to trophy to the winner, then success in insured.

Following the centennial race at the Indy 500 last weekend, on Victory Lane, BorgWarner, one of the big names of the automotive industry, did what it's been doing since 1936: handed the trophy for the Indy 500 to the winners.

Whereas the first ever BorgWarner trophy was awarded to Louis Meyer, this time the trophy landed in the hands of Dan Wheldon, who won the famous race for the second time in his career (the first win came in 2005).

BorgWarner's involvement with the Indianapolis race track dates back to the very beginning, in 1906, when four people, including Frank Wheeler from the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company, founded the speedway. Later, Wheeler's company would become part of the now giant parts supplier.

"Celebrating the centennial of the legendary Indianapolis 500 is personal for everyone at BorgWarner. Both the Speedway and the trophy are part of our history, and embody the spirit of our company," said BorgWarner CEO Timothy Manganello.

"We are very proud to be part of a century-long tradition of achievement, competitive performance and technology leadership at the Indianapolis 500 and look forward to beginning the next century as the exclusive supplier of turbochargers for the IZOD IndyCar Series."

The Borg-Warner Trophy stays on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.