Tuesday, May 22, 2007 | 7:43 a.m.
THE TROPHY
The Borg-Warner Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, is unique in all of sports in that the sterling-silver cup features a likeness of every winning driver's face.
A silversmith is commissioned each year to create the new champion's sculpture in bas-relief for the trophy, which now includes the faces of 90 drivers and a 24-karat gold likeness of the late Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman. Created in 1935 at a cost of $10,000, the trophy is valued at more than $1 million.
The race winner and winning car owner each receive an 18-inch-tall replica of the trophy, known as a "Baby Borg. "
PROFILES OF LOCAL PARTICIPANTS
ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS MORRIS
Sam Schmidt
Owner, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Age: 42
Residence: Henderson
Background: Former IndyCar driver who made 27 starts from 1997 to 1999. ... Earned lone career IndyCar Series pole and victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 1999. ... Was paralyzed from the chest down in a testing accident in January 2000 in Orlando, Fla. ... Formed Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2001. In addition to fielding cars in the developmental Indy Pro Series, his company has fielded an entry in the Indianapolis 500 every year since 2001. ... Former Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier (1996) is driving Schmidt's No. 99 entry this year.
Richie Hearn
Driver, No. 91 entry for Hemelgarn Racing
Age: 36
Residence: Henderson
Background: Made 24 IndyCar starts from 1996 to 2005. ... His lone career victory came in the inaugural IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1996. ... Also started 59 races in CART (now Champ Car World Series), with 16 top-10 finishes. ... Best finish in six Indy 500 starts is third place as a rookie in 1996. Also finished sixth in the 2002 Indy 500 driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
Davey Hamilton
Driver, No. 02 entry for Vision Racing
Age: 44
Residence: Boise, Idaho
Background: Longtime Las Vegas resident who moved back to Idaho after a serious accident in an IndyCar Race in 2001. ... Made 48 IndyCar starts from 1996 to 2001. ... Had no victories but earned 13 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes. ... Finished second in IndyCar Series points in the 1996-1997 and 1998 seasons. ... Best finish in six Indy 500 starts is fourth place in 1998. ... Last IndyCar Series race was June 9, 2001, at Texas Motor Speedway.
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