BorgWarner Announces Additional $50,000 Award For 'Three-Peat' Victory at Indy This Month

A Third Consecutive Win for 2001 and 2002 Winner Castroneves Will Make Racing History

CHICAGO, May 15 -- BorgWarner Inc. , the Top-25 automotive supplier whose name has been on the world-famous BorgWarner Indianapolis 500 Trophy(TM) since 1936, announced today that it will award a $50,000 bonus to 2001 and 2002 Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves if he wins the race for a third consecutive time May 25. Each year, the winner of the Indianapolis 500 wins $130,000 from BorgWarner, plus an additional $20,000 if he or she wins the race two years in a row. This bonus amount increases by $20,000 each year that there is not a "repeat" victory. In 2002, Castroneves received the $130,000 award plus an additional $160,000 bonus, as the first back-to-back winner since the bonus program was established in 1995. No driver in the history of the Indianapolis 500 has ever won the race three years in a row.

"Auto racing stands for the best in automotive technology," said Tim Manganello, BorgWarner President and CEO. "The BorgWarner Indianapolis 500 Trophy is a symbol of the achievement and performance that defines both the world of auto racing and our company's position as a world leader in powertrain innovation. If Helio Castroneves makes history this year, BorgWarner will be proud to mark the occasion with this one-time-only award."

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson points out that since this year's 500 will be Helio's third, a victory will earn him the dual distinction of being not only the first driver to win three in a row, but the only driver to accomplish this feat without ever losing the race.

"Every Indianapolis 500 has its memorable moments," said Davidson. "But if a 'three-peat' is in store for Helio on May 25, it will be among the most remarkable achievements in all of motor sports."

Castroneves is already a member of an elite group of five back-to-back winners. The first was Wilbur Shaw, who won in 1939 and 1940. His chance at a third consecutive victory was foiled by a wheel that collapsed at the three- quarter distance. Mauri Rose, the winner in 1947 and 1948, came close again in 1949 -- he was in second place toward the end of the race, but dropped out with only eight laps to go. 1953 and 1954 Indy winner Bill Vukovich was in first place again in 1955 when his car crashed, with fatal results. And up until this year, the most recent driver who had a chance at a "three-peat" was Al Unser, who won in 1970 and 1971. He crossed the finish line in third place, but was later elevated to second place when the last several laps of the runner-up were disallowed.

BorgWarner Inc. is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 43 locations in 14 countries. Customers include Ford, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, Caterpillar, Navistar International, Renault/Nissan, Peugeot and VW/Audi. The Internet address for BorgWarner is: http://www.bwauto.com/ . For further information contact BorgWarner Corporate Communications at 312-322-8500.

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