Rice, Rahal and Letterman receive their 'Baby Borgs'

[admin]

It’s finally starting to sink in for Buddy Rice and Dave Letterman.

Rice, winner of the 88th Indianapolis 500, and team co-owner Letterman both acknowledged after winning the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for the first time last May that it would take awhile for them to comprehend their accomplishment.

Rice, late-night television icon Letterman and Rahal Letterman Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal accepted awards from BorgWarner during the Automotive News World Congress Gala Dinner on Jan. 19 in Dearborn, Mich. Rice was presented with the BorgWarner Championship Driver’s Trophy and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Rahal and Letterman each received the BorgWarner Team Owner’s Trophy from BorgWarner Chairman and CEO Tim Manganello.

The Driver’s and Team Owner’s trophies, known in the racing and automotive industries as the “Baby Borg,” are smaller replicas of the Borg-Warner Trophy presented to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 each year since 1936. The awards gala was the second date in a week with a Borg-Warner trophy for Rice, who unveiled his bas-relief likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy and was presented his Indianapolis 500 Champion of Champions ring Jan. 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It was been a great experience to win the Indianapolis 500 and then participate in all of the events that accompany an Indy 500 champion,” Rice said. “Now the last few days have been very special by seeing your face on the Borg-Warner Trophy, placing the Indy 500 ring on your finger and receiving the Borg-Warner Trophy replica.
“That makes you feel like you have captured the world’s biggest race.”

Letterman, a native of Indianapolis, was nearly speechless after Rice drove his No. 15 Rahal Letterman Racing Argent/Pioneer Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone to victory. But time has helped him shape his thoughts about winning the world’s greatest race, memories he shared in a humorous, heartfelt speech at the World Congress dinner.

“I must admit that three of the most important things in my life have happened in the past five years,” Letterman said. “First, it was five years ago this month that I had a quadruple-bypass surgery that saved my life. Then, 14 months ago, we had the birth of my son, Harry. And then last May in Indianapolis, to win the 500-Mile Race was just unbelievable.

“It has been such a pleasure being a part of this team, and working with Bobby, Scott (Roembke), Buddy and the whole staff has been a great experience for me, some kid from Broad Ripple High in Indianapolis. It has been a thrill.”

Attending the dinner and the awards presentation was so important to Letterman that he skipped hosting his “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Jan. 19. Longtime show bandleader and Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer served as host and cracked jokes about Letterman’s trip to the dinner during his monologue.

“Dave is out of town,” Shaffer said. “He’s receiving an award. In other words, he’s in rehab. No, actually Dave is in Michigan tonight. He is getting a trophy for his racing team’s Indy 500 win. The average speed was 138, and that’s just Dave driving to Michigan.”

Letterman’s pride at winning the Indianapolis 500 and receiving the BorgWarner award will carry over when he returns to “The Late Show” on Jan. 20, as he plans to place the “Baby Borg” on his desk and show a video of the presentation during the show.

Rahal has experienced the magnitude of an Indianapolis 500 victory, winning the race as a driver in 1986. But he admitted a special sense of accomplishment for his first Indy victory as a team owner.

“I want to thank the BorgWarner Company for their tremendous contribution to the sport, and this award is one of the most prestigious trophies in all of sports,” Rahal said. “And winning the Indianapolis 500 as a team owner was just as satisfying as winning as a driver.

“I’m extremely happy to be standing up here on the stage with Buddy and Dave to accept the 'Baby Borg.' "