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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

New Championship Trophy Unveiled

At an event in Miami, today the IZOD IndyCar Series unveiled a new, 3-foot-tall, 45-pound Championship Trophy.  Designed by sculptor Ted Gall, the stainless steel sculpture atop an African Pedauk hardwood base of man with outstretched arms balanced on a single wheel, is meant to 'convey the intertwined nature of man and machine in the 21st century'.

The 2nd and 3rd place finishers in the Championship chase will also be presented with similar trophies at Sunday's Championship banquet.  At 26 inches tall, the two runner up trophies will have only one outstretched arm.

"We're not just a human form; we're what we use all the time. It used to be if you were a cowboy you'd ride a horse. Now we're really attached to wheels our whole lives. The arms are imploring; they're reaching out for that golden ring, for that big win.

The drivers were really tired of getting bowling trophies. They're bowls or something that doesn't relate to what they're doing. IZOD has gone beyond other sports. Rather than give out the run-of-the-mill trophy, they're giving artwork to the drivers about what they are.

The combination of stainless steel and the dark wood is wonderful. The steel is very strong and very industrial and very gutsy and the wood is very warm and beautiful. It's a nice combination of strength and richness." - Ted Gall

"What better way to end our first year as the title sponsor of the IZOD IndyCar Series, than to collaborate on the design of a Championship trophy that will lead us into a new era of IndyCar racing. We wanted to create something that would truly represent the speed, excitement and innovation that is the IZOD IndyCar Series and we feel that Ted Gall, with his compelling aesthetic and thought-provoking vision, was the perfect artist for the project.

The final result, with its outstretched arms reaching into the future, is a stunning statement that pays tribute to the amazing athletic champion that will win it." - VP of Marketing for Phillips Van-Heusen, Mike Kelly



(Photo: courtesy of the IZOD IndyCar Series)

1 comments:

Well had my hopes up for a nice trophy,but instead this looks DUMB. I get what they were going for. Its just doesnt say racing and a nic platium trophy would have really looked IMPORTANT.

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