Special “Baby Borg” Episode with Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi, Mike Hull and BorgWarner’s Paul Farrell and Michelle Collins

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Bruce Martin:

IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcasts. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series.

Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast, featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport.

I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as nbcsports.com, si.com, ESPN Sports Ticker, Sports Illustrated, Autoweek and Speed Sport.

So, let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy.

Welcome to this week's edition on Pit Pass Indy. All of us at Pit Pass Indy are deeply honored and proud to receive The Best Podcast of 2022 Award by the National Motorsports Press Association during its annual convention in Concord, North Carolina on January 22nd.

The episode entitled Mario Andretti and the “American Dream” won first place in the podcast category from an independent panel of judges. The episode was released on June 21st, 2022, and is available for download on all major podcast platforms. The team here at Evergreen Podcasts is deeply honored, proud, and humbled to receive this award.

When it comes to honors and awards, our next guest received the best trophy of his career on February 2nd, 2023 at a special ceremony at The Thermal Club in Thermal, California. It's Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, the winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500 in 2022.

Ericsson, along with team owner, Chip Ganassi, received their Baby Borg trophies at a special ceremony by BorgWarner. These are miniature versions of the famed BorgWarner Trophy that the winning driver and winning team owner from the Indy 500 get to keep. It's Ericsson's first Baby Borg. Chip Ganassi has won the Indianapolis 500 six times as a team owner.

Pit Pass Indy is packed with interviews from that ceremony in this special Baby Borg Edition of the podcast. Marcus Ericsson is our first guest on this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview from The Thermal Club.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy is the winning driver of the 106th Indianapolis 500. It's Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing.

Team owner, Chip Ganassi, loves winners, so he must really love you, especially after winning the Indy 500.

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah, it doesn't get much bigger than that, does it? So, no, I'm very thankful to be driving for Chip. Like you said, he likes winners and winning the 500, it's yeah, doesn't get much better than that.

Bruce Martin:

You get your Baby Borg Trophy, which is your trophy to keep for winning the Indianapolis 500. Late in 2022, your face was unveiled on the BorgWarner Trophy. That's always a huge honor because that face will be on the trophy for the rest of time. But this is special because you get to keep the Baby Borg. How do you plan on displaying it?

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah, it's funny because when I got to see my face for the first-time last year on the BorgWarner Trophy, it was actually that moment that it really sort of sunk in for me, that I won in the Indy 500. To see my face there with all the other winners, it really was something very special.

And today, receiving my Baby Borg, it's another thing of making it real, making it, this is not a dream, it's reality. To get the Baby Borg, to be able to bring that home.

And where I'm going to display it, I don't know. We’re house hunting, me and Iris, my girlfriend at the moment, we're looking for a house in Indianapolis. So, it's definitely going to have a very special place in our new house.

Bruce Martin:

Before you won the Indianapolis 500, before you got your Baby Borg, what was your most cherished prize trophy of your career?

Marcus Ericsson:

That is a very good question. It was probably my championship winning F3 when I won F3 in Japan. Probably that. Or no, change that. It was my Detroit win when I won my first IndyCar race in Detroit in 2021, because that was such a huge win for me, and it was such a huge breakthrough for me and for my career.

And it feels like after that it sort of catapulted me into a tough driver in IndyCar. And so, definitely, that 2021 IndyCar Detroit's victory.

Bruce Martin:

Looking at your record though, the fact that you were a contender to win the Indianapolis 500, to those of us who were really paying attention to how well you did in past Indy 500s, we could see, “Hey, this Marcus Ericsson could win this race.” What was it about that track that seems to suit your style so well?

Marcus Ericsson:

So, racing in Europe and around the world, I always liked high speed corners, it was always my favorite, was high speed corners. So, I always had this idea that if I go to IndyCar and race on the ovals, it's going to be something that suits me and my driving style. So, I was always excited to try that.

And then when I finally came to IndyCar and started to drive on ovals, I straight away liked it and thought it just worked for me in my style.

So, like you said, the first few attempts on Indy, I feel like I had good speed, but it was always some small mistakes that got me out of contention.

So, I learned from them and going into Monterey, 2022, I felt like I had the experience from those mistakes and the team and the car to be able to fight for a victory. And I'm very proud that I managed to pull it off, but it was definitely, a lot of hard work behind that.

Bruce Martin:

Prior to winning the Indianapolis 500, you probably didn't know Will Behrends, you didn't know Michelle Collins. You probably only knew Steve Shunck in a casual way. But now, after posing with sculptor, Will Behrends, after getting your face unveiled on the BorgWarner Trophy. And now, going to Sweden with BorgWarner and now, getting your Baby Borg. In a way these people have become part of your family?

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's such a special thing here. The BorgWarner people and IndyCar and everyone, and IMS, all these people, get to experience so many cool things since winning the Indy 500.

And it's a win that keeps on giving, it never ends and it's still does. And I can't wait to get back to Indianapolis and Monterey as the defending champion. It's going to be such a cool experience and I still have to pinch myself because it is like a dream for sure.

Bruce Martin:

What's your reaction going to be when they have that huge photo of yourself hanging above the main entrance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when you go there in May?

Marcus Ericsson:

Like I said, it's going to be so special coming there as the defending champion and be on all the tickets, be on the entrance, and it's just so many cool things. So, I definitely going to try and just enjoy every single day of the month of May.

Bruce Martin:

And when you think about the commitment that BorgWarner makes in the Indianapolis 500, they've been the sponsor of the BorgWarner Trophy since 1935. Recently, they've been giving out Baby Borg trophies, but their commitment to the Indy 500 is serious.

And what does that mean to the participants to know you've got a company that values the Indianapolis 500 and the sport of IndyCar as much as BorgWarner?

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah, it's incredible and I think it's so great for the sport, for the 500 to have a company like BorgWarner and the investments they've made over the years into the sport and into the 500.

And even this like today, given the Baby Borg, the whole ceremony around it, it's just so much things that they do. And like you said, it's become a second family for me and I'm very, very thankful of that.

Bruce Martin:

On February 2nd at an owner's meeting, IndyCar officials announced to the team owners that they will award single points, not double points at the Indianapolis 500 beginning this year. I guess you hold the distinction of being the last double points winner of the Indy 500. What's your reaction to the change?

Marcus Ericsson:

To be fair, I don't mind it. I don't really have a strong opinion on it. I think I can understand it in some ways because it's a lot of points to be double points, but at the same time, that race is a whole month. So, it's like it's so much more than just a race. So, in some sense, I kind of like that it was paying more than the other races. So, let's see how it works now.

Of course, winning it last year was nice to get the double points, but still going to be the biggest and the greatest race in the world, double points or not.

Bruce Martin:

That race could pay no points and you would all fight just as hard to win it as anything.

Marcus Ericsson:

Exactly, exactly that. And I think that's the thing, double points or not, it's still going to be the same thing for me and for every other driver.

Bruce Martin:

When you think of the drama that unfolded at the end of that race, your teammate, Scott Dixon was driving a perfect race, got caught with a speeding penalty. And then toward the end of the race, five laps to go, your teammate at that time, Jimmie Johnson crashes to bring out the red flag, which stopped the race.

Here you are sitting on pit lane, and I know you weren't happy at the moment that it was stopped and you were going to have to hold off a charging paddle award for the victory. How much of a rollercoaster of emotion was that for you?

Marcus Ericsson:

It was definitely, my hardest and biggest challenge of my career to sit there 10 minutes waiting for the last two laps on the Indy 500, knowing I was in the lead and knowing I had the race sort of covered.

I had such a big lead and it got taken away from me with that red flag. And it was such a mental challenge to stay focused and put a strategy in place for those last two laps and then go out and deliver it and managed to hold off and win the race.

But now, with how it unfolded, it could not have happened in a better way. That finish, the way it had to win that race, which is incredible and it made it even more special. So, at the time I was very upset about the red flag. Now, I think it was the best thing that could happen because it just made it even cooler to win.

Bruce Martin:

When did it hit you that you had won the Indy 500?

Marcus Ericsson:

Probably not like until I saw my face on the actual BorgWarner Trophy in like — what was that? October, November, or something like that. So-

Bruce Martin:

End of October.

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah. Until then, it's strange because you're so busy with your season straight away after the Indy 500 and you don't really get much time to sit back and really think about what you had accomplished. So, for me, it took a bit into the off season to really realize what I'd done.

Bruce Martin:

So, we're coming up on the 2023 Indianapolis 500, BorgWarner has a big rollover bonus available. If you become the first back-to-back winner of the Indianapolis 500, you get a huge bonus worth over $300,000.

There hasn't been a back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves in 2001, 2002. Does the extra money motivate you anymore?

Marcus Ericsson:

No, it doesn't motivate me more, but of course, it's a nice thing to know that I could get that if I do win it again. But to be honest, it's like the double points. Indy 500 with its history being the biggest and the greatest race in the world, it doesn't matter with the money, with the points, with anything, it's just everyone is going to go out there and do everything to win that race.

So, yeah, it's great to know that, but doesn't change anything.

Bruce Martin:

And wrapping up here with Marcus Ericsson, winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500, the driver of the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing, you're now, a hero in Sweden. You went back to Sweden during the off season, you were hailed as a hero.

What has that really done for the country of Sweden when it comes to motorsports that now, you're the first Indy 500 champion from that country since Kenny Brack?

Marcus Ericsson:

Yeah, I mean, it's been incredible to see the amount of interest it's been around me and the IndyCar Series and the Indy 500. The trophy tour we did with the BorgWarner Trophy in November really made a huge impact in the whole of Sweden.

I was on every TV show, morning TV, magazines, newspapers, everywhere. And people are talking about IndyCar racing, people are talking about Marcus Ericsson, and it's been huge.

And only last month, I was back in Sweden for the Swedish Sports Awards Gala, and I finished third in the Sport Performance of the Year. And that is in Motorsport, which is normally not even nominated there. And I finished third out of every sport person in Sweden. So, it says quite a lot about interests and the support I've got from back home at the moment.

Bruce Martin:

Marcus Ericsson, from all of us here at Pit Pass Indy, congratulations on winning the 106thIndianapolis 500, congratulations on getting the Baby Borg Trophy. Good luck in 2023, and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy.

Marcus Ericsson:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

That was the winning driver of the 106th Indianapolis 500. Now, let's hear from the winning team owner, Chip Ganassi in this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, it's a true honor to talk to the six-time Indianapolis 500 winning team owner. It's Chip Ganassi, who on February 2nd, got to receive the Baby Borg Trophy from Marcus Ericsson's dramatic victory in the 106th Indianapolis 500.

Chip likes winners. So, you got to love Marcus Ericsson.

Chip Ganassi:

Bruce, unbelievable. I mean, just to relive that moment again and again is never gets old, never goes away. Really lucky in the position I am. It's an honor to be here tonight, represent the team, the great people that it took to bring Marcus across the finish line.

He and I get to celebrate these events like this, but it's really about a load of people back at Chip Ganassi Racing in Indianapolis that pool this all together.

Bruce Martin:

And the thing about Marcus is a lot of true racers saw his development from the time he entered the NTT IndyCar Series to this year. And a lot of people looked at him and said, “He's a guy that's going to win this race,” and he was able to put it together masterfully.

What was it that you saw in Marcus Ericsson that you realize he's going to be a winner?

Chip Ganassi:

Well, just was, he's smooth. He likes ovals, he's smooth. He's a student of the sport, works hard at it and really puts the time and effort in, I think that it takes today, in the world of sports.

And I think it falls off on a lot of young people. They just think you show up and drive cars. They don't see the hours and hours of work that goes into away from a track. Watching film, watching videotape, watching old races, talking to other drivers, understanding the strategy, understanding the philosophy of the strategy, and really being there at the 500-mile mark is very important.

Bruce Martin:

And when you think of the team that you've put together, the legendary drivers, the former Indianapolis 500 winners, beginning in 1989 when it was Emerson Fittipaldi and the team that you were partners with Pat Patrick. Then in 2000, when Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, the list goes on and on of the great drivers that have won that race.

You have to feel a certain amount of pride that BorgWarner has been able to memorialize all of those great drivers on that great trophy there.

Chip Ganassi:

It's a feather in the team's cap for sure, just to have our representation on the BorgWarner Trophy with I think now, five different drivers. And it's a testament to the team. It's a testament to Mike Hull, the guy that runs everything there for us in Indianapolis. And I just feel really lucky to be a part of it. It's great to work with a great team of people.

I started watching the Indianapolis 500 in 1963. My father came home with a video tape or a eight-millimeter film actually, of the 1963 win when Parnelli won. And over the years, Parnelli signed off on my driver's license when I was a rookie at Indy. And went on to celebrate, I think my 50th when I turned 50, I was at Thanksgiving. And just got to celebrate my Thanksgiving with Parelli.

We've been friends over the years and I received a special gift from him tonight here. He is 90 years old now, and wrote me a personal note with some photographs. And it really says, well, what this race is all about and how important of it is to win the largest automobile race in the world.

Bruce Martin:

And this will be the 60th anniversary of Parnelli Jones' win in 1963. And the fact that he's still there, he was a hero to you, Chip Ganassi. I think it's only fitting that you win another Indianapolis 500 in 2023 to celebrate Parnelli's 60th anniversary.

Chip Ganassi:

It wouldn't bother me a bit, Bruce. Thank you, we're going to try to do that.

Bruce Martin:

Well, Chip, it's the motto at Chip Ganassi Racing, is Chip likes winners, so he's got a love Marcus Ericsson, especially when there's another Baby Borg that you get to take back home in Pittsburgh.

Chip Ganassi, congratulations on yet another Indianapolis 500 victory, another Baby Borg. Thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy.

Chip Ganassi:

Thank you, Bruce.

Bruce Martin:

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

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy.

Mike Hull is the managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing. He joins us on this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview to tell the significance of Marcus Ericsson winning the Indianapolis 500 for the team.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy is the managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing, Mike Hull, who is here to celebrate Marcus Ericsson getting his Baby Borg Trophy for winning the 106th Indianapolis 500.

As I asked your boss, Chip Ganassi, if the motto is Chip loves winners, then you guys must love Marcus Ericsson.

Mike Hull:

We love Marcus Ericsson and who I represent are all the people that work for Marcus Ericsson and Chip for what they've each accomplished in motor racing. And the latest chapter for Chip Ganassi Racing is the Indianapolis 500.

Bruce Martin:

Last year's Indianapolis 500 was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for the guys at Chip Ganassi Racing. For a while there, it looked like Scott Dixon was going to finally be able to get his second Indianapolis 500 win. Drove a perfect race, you called perfect grace strategy. Speeding on pit lane took him out of contention. But look who's lurking in position to capitalize, Marcus Ericsson.

In many ways, was that Marcus's smartest drive?

Mike Hull:

I think Marcus kept himself in the race all day. The people in the pits and the people calling strategy kept him in the race all day. And he capitalized and won the race. And anybody that ran a race like Marcus ran, maybe you deserve the race win, but you don't always get it. And Marcus did everything that it took and we're really, really proud of him.

Bruce Martin:

For team owner, Chip Ganassi, it's his sixth Indianapolis 500 victory, I believe it's your fifth Indianapolis 500 victory. That's what you work all year to get, is win the Indy 500, win the championship. And at Chip Ganassi Racing, you've been able to experience that many times, both the championship and the Indy 500, but that's what you're in business for.

Mike Hull:

Well, what we're in business to do is, (as you said, Chip likes winners) to win races. But in order to win races, I think you have to be brutally honest about where you are as a race team.

You have to know that you have drivers like Marcus that can drive the car, crew members that we have in multiple that can make it happen for Marcus, and an owner who understands as a former driver, really what the driver needs. And when you put that whole resource together with partners, then you have a chance to win.

And for me personally, my wildest dream was always to be able to first get to the Indy 500. And it's gone well beyond expectation for me.

Bruce Martin:

You return once again with a very powerful lineup at the Indianapolis 500. It's going to be Scott Dixon, and it's going to be Marcus Ericsson, it's going to be Alex Palou, it's going to be Takuma Sato joining the team-

Mike Hull:

That's correct.

Bruce Martin:

A two-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver.

Mike Hull:

Yeah.

Bruce Martin:

You got to have some high hopes for Takuma because if there's one track he really loves, it's the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mike Hull:

I think what Chip Ganassi Racing enjoys is people who separate themselves from the field. And on given days at Indianapolis, Takuma Sato has done that, so have the other drivers that we have.

And so, when you have a group of four separators that work really, really hard together, it multiplies your opportunity. And then it's up to all of us to turn that opportunity into reality. You want those two things to cross over and when they cross over, man, you get your face on the BorgWarner.

Bruce Martin:

Parnelli Jones is a hero to Chip. He's also a hero to Mike Hull. And this being the 60th anniversary of Parnelli Jones's 1963 Indianapolis 500 victory. I think it's only fitting that you win the Indianapolis 500 this year also. How does that sound?

Mike Hull:

It sounds terrific. Parnelli's been, first of all, as a young kid in Southern California, a big hero for me. And then I've gotten to meet one of my heroes and gotten to know him quite well.

And it's a special opportunity to first of all, to know Parnelli and know how he understands what it means to win. And he transmits and displays that still to this day in his life. And what a fantastic person.

Bruce Martin:

And finally, all this is made possible, the BorgWarner Trophy, the Baby Borgs by BorgWarner. When you think they've been involved with the Indianapolis 500 continuously since 1935, there's no other sponsor in the sporting world that can claim that.

How important is BorgWarner, not only did the Indianapolis 500, but also to have that type of longevity and commitment and loyalty to the Indianapolis 500?

Mike Hull:

Well, I think the energy that they provide for all of us in the paddock, all of the people that understand how important to having your face emblazed on that trophy is.

And you know what, when you looked at those sculptured faces on that trophy, all of them are special and have had great stature in motor racing, and they deserve to be there. There's not too many lucky faces on that trophy, it's all champions. And BorgWarner has that in common as a championship organization.

Bruce Martin:

Well, it's certainly a race that the winning driver and the winning team has to earn. And I know it's a major goal at Chip Ganassi Racing every year to win an Indianapolis 500, then have that carry them on to another championship in the season.

But Mike Hull, good luck in 2023. Congratulations on yet another Indianapolis 500 victory. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy.

Mike Hull:

Yeah, it's terrific. Thanks for everybody that follows IndyCar Racing because the Indianapolis 500 is really such a special, special event.

Bruce Martin:

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

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy.

BorgWarner's commitment to the Indianapolis 500 is unmatched in all of sports. The BorgWarner Trophy has been part of the Indianapolis 500 since it was unveiled in 1935. Louis Meyer was the first driver to receive the BorgWarner Trophy in victory lane after he became the first driver to win three Indianapolis 500s in 1936.

The permanent BorgWarner Trophy is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. So, BorgWarner began the tradition of giving the winning driver and team owner a miniature Baby Borg Trophy.

Paul Farrell is the executive vice president and chief strategy officer for BorgWarner, who tells us about the strong relationship between the company and the Indianapolis 500 in this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, it's Paul Farrell, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for BorgWarner. It's a big day for BorgWarner, a big day for IndyCar, a big day for the winner of the Indianapolis 500 as we presented Marcus Ericsson the winner of 106th Indianapolis 500 with the Baby Borg Trophy.

Your company has been involved with the BorgWarner Trophy since 1935. This has got to be a pretty special day for the company.

Paul Farrell:

Oh, it is. I mean, it's a great event. It's a nice, really closeout to the 2022 season. It's always nice to get the trophy out. It's nice to celebrate the win, and I think it's really nice to be able to share really, a very memorable memento from that win with both the team owners as well as the winning driver. So, it's a great evening.

Bruce Martin:

What is the secret to the longevity of the arrangement between BorgWarner and the Indianapolis 500? There's no other sponsorship arrangement that has lasted as long as BorgWarner with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Paul Farrell:

Yeah, it's a great question. I mean, I think it's really a commitment. I think BorgWarner values the relationship with the Indy 500. The tradition is fantastic. And so, for us, it's a great affiliation and it's something we really continue to invest in and foster and grow. And we really, really just value that relationship and that history. So, it is the tradition, I think is a really important part of it.

Bruce Martin:

But not only the tradition of the company's involvement with the Indianapolis 500, but every car in the field has a BorgWarner turbocharger on it. So, you're also getting a little bit of engineering technology transfer and also, a business involvement.

Paul Farrell:

Yeah, that's correct. I think there's two actually, if I'm not mistaken on all the Indy cars. So, we supply the turbochargers. That's another area where again, that hasn't been quite as long as obviously, with the trophy, but it's a long-standing relationship.

And it is a nice opportunity to both showcase the technology, continue to push our products and make sure we get … it's a nice test ground, proven and getting better. So, yeah, it's I think, a nice reinforcement and valuable relationship that we have.

Bruce Martin:

And also, you get a lot of B2B (business to business) involvement with the company, with other automotive manufacturers that BorgWarner does business with. I know you're a global company, you're moving toward a lot of electrification.

How important is that business to business involvement to be involved with such a major sporting event like the Indianapolis 500?

Paul Farrell:

I think it's a great partnership. So, like as you mentioned, we supply the turbocharger. So, that's a, I think a very close relationship as you think about the relationship between turbocharger and the engines and the engine manufacturers.

I think just the credibility that comes along with our involvement in motorsports, I think is also valued by those customers. So, no, I think it's a very reinforcing and positive thing.

Bruce Martin:

The exposure aspect of the Indianapolis 500 and the fact that it’s the BorgWarner Trophy and so much of the tradition is based around that trophy, early in the morning when the trophy comes around, the Speedway and is delivered at the Yard of Bricks, the BorgWarner wreath that goes to the winner posing with the trophy. That's probably exposure that you probably cannot put a price tag on.

Paul Farrell:

No, I think that really represents that long, long, long history. The trophy almost becomes, it has a presence in and of itself. It's very imposing, it's large, it's very iconic. And I mean, it's really, I think, special for everyone associated with BorgWarner, just to be part of that and see that tradition and see the trophy come out. So, no, it's very, very special.

Bruce Martin:

Every winning driver that I've spoken with that has gone through all of the ceremonies with BorgWarner from having their face unveiled on the trophy, prior to that, they meet with sculptor, William Behrends at his studio in Tyron, North Carolina.

Sometimes they'll go on a tour with BorgWarner with the trophy, maybe to their home country.

Paul Farrell:

Exactly.

Bruce Martin:

And finally, when they get the Baby Borg Trophy, they'll say, “Before I went to Indy 500, I really didn't know the BorgWarner people. Now, I feel like they're my family.”

Paul Farrell:

Yeah. No, it is. And my involvement with Will has been the last several years, and you get that connection. I mean, even this evening, it's a great opportunity. You've got the special event to really recognize the winner and the team owner, but it's also a chance to meet them and meet the people that they're surrounded by. And there is that personal connection that you're able to build.

And you'll probably talk to Michelle on a bit, and obviously, she's been doing this for a long time and really built those relationships. So, I think it is very special from that perspective.

Bruce Martin:

Also, corporate entertainment. You entertain a lot of corporate people at the Indianapolis 500. How valuable is that?

Paul Farrell:

I think, I mean, the Indy 500 is a very special event. And so, I think it is something that our corporate customers very much appreciate. And again, I think it reinforces the BorgWarner brand and really the presence and credibility that we have is a very important tier one automotive supplier.

Bruce Martin:

And how important is it that BorgWarner's CEO, Frederic Lissalde, is so invested in the Indy 500? He loves that event so much.

Paul Farrell:

I think you've captured it exactly right. He does it because he loves it. He loves the tradition, he loves the event, he loves the spectacle. I mean, I think it's just something that he just enjoys. It's not something he does it because he says, “I'm the CEO of BorgWarner and I have to do this.” He does it because he's legitimately really appreciates everything that goes around it.

And most importantly, I think really has this deep respect for the tradition and the foundations of it. It's really, I think, special for him.

Bruce Martin:

I'm sure that he wishes he was here tonight.

Paul Farrell:

Absolutely, absolutely.

Bruce Martin:

But I also, know that he's got business worlds to conquer and BorgWarner, it seems that every other month you guys are acquiring new companies, you're now, moving toward electrification, you're moving toward battery technology, you're moving toward acquiring the material needed for rechargeable batteries.

So, as far as from a business standpoint, describe all of that, that Borg Warner is moving forward with technology.

Paul Farrell:

Sure. Yeah, so, we announced back in March of 2021, our Charging Forward strategy. And a big part of that has been there's really kind of three main elements. One, we've been working on this for a while. It's a journey we've been on probably since 2015. So, we made a series of acquisitions that were really foundational and some of the core propulsion technologies that go into electric vehicles.

And so, when we announced the Charging Forward strategy, there were three main elements. One was to maximize the value we got of those, so the organic growth associated with those prior investments.

The second piece was the M&A piece that you've talked about. So, adding on to that, and so, continuing to build that. And that's an area where we've been quite active and I think we've probably announced four acquisitions in a major investment (maybe I'm off plus or minus one there) over the last year or so. So, quite a bit of activity.

And then the last piece of it is also recognizing that just getting the balance right around our combustion portfolio. In late last year, we announced the spinoff of our fuel systems in our aftermarket business.

Again, we think that's a great business, it's a good time to do it. We've made a lot of progress on our electrification future and we think it's a great opportunity for that business to move forward and really kind of chart its own course.

So, we announced what we're going to do and I think we've been very methodical and deliberate in executing that strategy.

Bruce Martin:

BorgWarner North America is based in Detroit, but how many continents does BorgWarner have facilities and headquarters in?

Paul Farrell:

Wow. Alright. You're going to stretch me on that, and say probably like five. On a continent basis, it's probably five, you can give or take. I might be off on that, but I think that's probably about right.

Bruce Martin:

Do you know how many countries you're involved in?

Paul Farrell:

Ah, man, you should have had me study for this. I don't. I'll say, I don't know.

Bruce Martin:

It's a lot of countries.

Paul Farrell:

It's a lot of countries.

Bruce Martin:

We'll leave it at that, but-

Paul Farrell:

Exactly.

Bruce Martin:

… to be able to always be about innovation and about forward thinking has got to be a very important motto for your company.

Paul Farrell:

It absolutely is. I mean, a big part of BorgWarner as we think about ourselves as product leadership and part of that is having the right technologies and being a leader in our respective spaces. So, ultimately, we start with product, we start with the technology and we think if we have that, and we do that well, both from a product technology as well as the operational execution of it, (which I think BorgWarner does a really, really good job with) we’re really kind of comfortable and confident in our future.

Bruce Martin:

Marcus Ericsson received his Baby Borg and I'm sure you saw because he stepped aside and he just looks at the Baby Borg Trophy with this big smile on his face. That's got to be a reaction that you can't buy.

Paul Farrell:

Yeah, no, like I said, it's very special to have the big trophy that's been around since, as you mentioned, 1935 and you have a little piece of that. And even to have the face that's done that Will crafts, have that as part of the trophy you're given. Hopefully, it's something that he cherishes. But we think it's special and clearly his reaction was very special.

Bruce Martin:

Well, Paul Farrell, the executive vice president, chief strategy officer of BorgWarner, we look forward to seeing you again at the Indianapolis 500. We appreciate everything that BorgWarner does for the sport of IndyCar Racing, especially the Indianapolis 500.

Good luck in 2023, not only on the racetrack, but in the business world. And thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy.

Paul Farrell:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

Our final guest is global director marketing and public relations for BorgWarner, Michelle Collins, who returns to Pit Pass Indy to tell us about the value of honoring the Indianapolis 500 winner every year in this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy is actually a regular guest of the show, believe it or not. It's Michelle Collins, the director of global marketing communications for BorgWarner.

If we have you on Pit Pass Indy, that means that BorgWarner has presented a trophy to someone in IndyCar. Tonight, it was the Baby Borg Trophy that went to Marcus Ericsson, winner of the 106thIndianapolis 500.

You presented it at The Thermal Club in Thermal, California, a different venue, a very lavish venue.

Michelle Collins:

Yes.

Bruce Martin:

And to be able to hold it here for the first time, what was your thoughts on that?

Michelle Collins:

Really cool. I mean, when we found out the spring training was happening here, we thought this could be a really good opportunity to do something with the Baby Borgs. We're assured that the driver and the team owner will be here, which is usually very difficult to schedule once the season starts.

And so, discussed it with the track and it was kind of a win-win. Gives us some additional coverage outside of everything that's already happening here. And I think it's an exciting way to kind of close out the previous season while you're looking forward to the next.

Bruce Martin:

Last year, we presented the Baby Borg to Helio Castroneves for his fourth Indianapolis 500. It was presented by Indiana Governor, Eric Holcomb at the Indiana State House. Seems like you guys have a flare for presenting this at unique venues.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah, for sure. We try to find something that's interesting to people that's going to be different every single year and just do something different to kind of keep people guessing and keep it exciting.

Bruce Martin:

Is one of the great things about your job representing BorgWarner and being involved with the BorgWarner Trophy is a lot of times, I would say prior to race day in 2000 or in 2022, you probably didn't know Marcus Ericsson.

But after everything that BorgWarner's involved in, from meeting with him in victory lane after he wins the race to the photos that are shot the morning after the meeting with sculptor, William Behrends. To then meeting with sculptor, William Behrends at his studio in Tryon, North Carolina.

To unveiling his face on the permanent BorgWarner Trophy. To taking the trophy with Marcus Ericsson to his home country of Sweden and now, to present him with the Baby Borg. You probably now, feel like he's part of the BorgWarner family.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah, definitely. We've gotten to know him well over the last year. And you're right, he was a little bit of an unknown to me.

So, typically, I'm reading up on all of the people who will be in the lineup that year, getting to know a little bit about their bio, trying to even think ahead, what potentially could I do if this person wins, where are they from, what opportunities might there be to leverage some of these activities? So, I do a decent amount of homework before the season even starts.

But yeah, he was a little bit of an unknown and I would say definitely, not after this year with all of the activities. I mean, we've done a lot of things together. He's a great guy. He's been so appreciative of it, which makes my job really easy and I'm happy to do that.

Bruce Martin:

And also, how many of those friendships from former BorgWarner Baby Borg winners, winners of the Indianapolis 500, they may not win the Indy 500 the following year or five years later, but they see you, and you visit, and you talk, and it's almost like the company's developed great friendships from this.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah, it's really cool. I mean, even coming to this event they hosted a little kind of opener last night, and I can't tell you how many drivers came up and said, “Hey, Michelle, I hope I see a lot of you this year.” Because they associate me now, with the Baby Borgs, with the BorgWarner Trophy. And of course, with all of these kind of amplified activities we've been doing.

So, over the years, of course, taking it overseas a few times, doing some really special things for the drivers with that, which is something I love to do and is our gift to them.

Bruce Martin:

How do you quantify just how important BorgWarner's relationship is with the Indianapolis 500? You've been the sponsor of the BorgWarner Trophy since 1935. No other sponsorship in sports comes close to that. But how do you even begin to quantify how valuable that relationship is to the company?

Michelle Collins:

It's amazing to think how many years. I think there's nothing like it. Like you said, there's really nothing else like it in sports. So, it's an honor to have that longstanding history with it.

And it's just cool to be involved with it. It's hard to explain what that means day to day, but it's just something that becomes part of like who you are and what you're doing.

Bruce Martin:

The BorgWarner Trophy, the permanent trophy, almost seems to have taken on a, it's almost like a living, breathing object, and that makes it so unique.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah, for sure. We always say, the stories it could tell if it could talk, been a lot of different places and just think of everything that over the 80 some years that we've had it, the things it's seen and the places it's been.

And we do have a little bit of fun with that. We have a social media page for the trophy. And I would say even over this last year, we've been doing even a little bit more with that, to the point where a lot of drivers are even interacting with that page, which has been really cool and fun to see. That's exactly what we wanted.

Bruce Martin:

If you go back 55 years, there was a movie made called Winning, and that was May, 1968. Starred Paul Newman and Robert Wagner and also, BorgWarner Trophy plays on major role in that movie. And that movie was made over a half century ago.

So, that just goes to show what that trophy meant 55 years ago. And by then, it was probably 40 years old at that point. Won't be long here, maybe, what is it, another 12 years the BorgWarner Trophy is going to have its 100th birthday.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah. Isn't that crazy to think about? I mean, how many things do you have that are a 100 years old or more? And I mean, not a lot of people can say that. And it looks better now, I think, even than it did then. The museum takes such great care of it. We take such great pride in it.

And I was talking to somebody the other day and we were even saying, Will Behrends, he'll be close to having done over a third of the faces on that trophy too. When you think of it like that, it's really something special.

Bruce Martin:

From a business standpoint, BorgWarner has been very, very active, especially toward the end of the fourth quarter in 2022. If you could tell our listeners some of the business changes and acquisitions that the company has made.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah. We've been doing a lot of acquisitions over the last couple of years, so it's part of a strategy that we call Charging Forward, and it's really kind of an evolution of the company. When you think of where we were when the company started to where we are now, it's gone through multiple evolutions just to change as the industry is changing.

So, of course, we're looking more forwards towards electrification, very active in that space. But I would say even with that change, we are not forgetting where we came from. And this is still something that's a very important element to us.

Bruce Martin:

It wasn't that long ago that the Baby Borg was awarded at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. Since that time, it's moved to many different places, but I think it's really become a major event mostly through your efforts and also through the efforts of Steve Shunck. And just how much has that really helped create?

This is one of the biggest, most looked forward to events of the off season.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah. So, I've been with BorgWarner for 10 years. I would say within the last five years, I had become more involved just with this side of the business. I had always been involved in supporting Indy, but kind of came more to the forefront as some people left the organization and retired.

And for me, kind of seeing it with some fresh eyes, I felt that it was very important to take this time to make it something very special for the driver. And that's what I've been focused on for the years that I've been responsible for this now.

And I would say that started really in 2019 when we took the trophy to France. We did an unveil there, which everybody was shocked about because we had kind of done the same thing for multiple years prior to that. And we did it in August, which was probably the quickest turnaround we had ever had just with Will and getting the face done.

But for me, it's been very important just to make it more personal. I love the Auto Show and I love everything that it has to offer, but I wasn't quite sure that it was the right venue to be doing the Baby Borgs at.

I wanted it really to be something where the driver had a decision and a choice in it, that they could invite people that meant something to them, invite their team.

With the Auto Show, we were never able to have those type of invitees to the event. And I felt that was really important because I wanted it to be something they enjoyed and not something that was a chore for them.

Bruce Martin:

It was almost like the warmup act of another event that went on at the Detroit Auto Show.

Michelle Collins:

Exactly, exactly. And I just didn't like that. I felt like it was strong enough and it needs to be its own event.

Bruce Martin:

Steve Shunck has a lot of the decision making and ideas that come in, like the creativity of those events and you never know what to expect when he produces one of these things.

Michelle Collins:

Yeah, definitely. I mean, Steve, he just has such a deep knowledge of Indy 500 and a love of it as well. I mean, he has every fact known to man about the Indy 500 memorized in his mind. It's honestly amazing.

So, we'll get together and brainstorm often about, “What's coming up over the next year? What do you think we should do?” Where we think we might have an angle or an opportunity to do something, just because he is such a pulse on everything.

And I think it's a great team effort. He's not only somebody I work with, but I think I consider him a friend too.

Bruce Martin:

And finally, when you see the driver get his Baby Borg — when Marcus Ericsson got his Baby Borg, he stepped aside and he's looking at it like a kid holding a Christmas gift and he's just got this smile on his face as he is inspecting it. Is that the moment that you really realize just how special this is to the driver?

Michelle Collins:

Yes. And it's funny you should mention that because I noticed that immediately. And I was just kind of watching him look at it thinking, “Oh, I wish I had my camera to capture that.” But in a way, maybe not because we always have our phone in front of us and it's nice to just kind of take in that moment as it is.

But that's what makes it all worth it. It was so cool to see his reaction to that. And I think he'll be very happy as he goes into the second day of training on the track tomorrow.

Bruce Martin:

You've made a lot of friends in the IndyCar Paddock. You've also made a lot of friends with those of us who've gotten to know the company.

Michelle Collins, director global marketing and communications at BorgWarner, congratulations on another outstanding Baby Borg event, BorgWarner Trophy event. Good luck in 2023 and thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy.

Michelle Collins:

Thanks so much, Bruce. I always love talking to you.

[Music Playing]

Bruce Martin:

And that puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy.

We want to thank our guest, 106th Indianapolis 500 winning driver, Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing; team owner, Chip Ganassi; managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing, Mike Hull; executive vice president and chief strategy officer for BorgWarner, Paul Farrell; and global director marketing and public relations for BorgWarner, Michelle Collins, for joining us on today's podcast.

Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests help make Pit Pass Indy your path to victory lane for all things IndyCar. And because of our guest and listeners, Pit Pass Indy is proud to be the winner of The Best Podcast by the National Motorsports Press Association.

For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter @BruceMartin (one-word, uppercase B, uppercase M) _500.

This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Brigid Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin and final mixing was done by Dave Douglas.

Learn more at evergreenpodcasts.com.

Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.