101st Indianapolis 500 Field Starts Final Countdown to Race Day at Drivers' Meeting

Drivers participating in the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil received final instructions and awards Saturday in the public drivers’ meeting, the final race activity at the track before “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi and Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian co-owners Michael Andretti and Bryan Herta each accepted a “Baby Borg” trophy from Scott Gallett, vice president of marketing for BorgWarner, for being the winning driver and car owner at the 100th Indianapolis 500. The Baby Borg is a miniature replica of the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, which bears the bas-relief likeness, name and average speed of every Indianapolis 500 winner.

Andretti and Herta also received the winning car owner’s ring from Gord Knapp, president of CEO of Bridgestone Americas.

Curt Bruns of Jostens also presented all 33 drivers in this year’s race with starters’ rings. Indianapolis 500 Pace Car driver, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, also was recognized just before the starters’ rings were presented.

STEAM Sports Group founder Bob Dickinson and general manager John Clamme and NXG Youth Motorsports board member Tracy Barnes each received a Legends of the Indianapolis 500 Award of $10,000 from Firestone to continue their work with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Design, Mathematics) education programs centered around motorsports with students.

American Dairy Association’s Deb Osza presented the Louis Meyer Winners Drink Milk Award to Rossi for his victory in the 2016 race.

The late Florence Henderson’s family was presented a commemorative brick from the Hulman-George family, for recognition and thanks for Henderson’s devotion to the Indianapolis 500 and for singing “God Bless America” during pre-race ceremonies for many years.

Brian Barnhart, Verizon IndyCar Series race director and INDYCAR vice president of competition, concluded the drivers’ meeting by discussing race rules and guidelines with the drivers.

Indy Lights driver Matheus Leist was recognized at the start of the ceremony for winning the Freedom 100 on Friday at IMS.

The 101st Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at 12:19 p.m. (ET) Sunday. The race will be televised live on ABC, with the pre-race show starting at 11 a.m. (ET). The Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 212, XM 209 and SXM 970.