The Borg-Warner Trophy awarded to the Indianapolis 500 winner is headed overseas for the first time, en route to a 15-day celebration in Japan of Takuma Sato's triumph in May.

"I think it is very special that the Borg-Warner Trophy is travelling to Japan," said Sato, who edged three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil to win the fabled race on May 28.

"The trophy represents winning the greatest race in the world, and I am very proud to have won the 2017 Indianapolis 500 and to have my image on the trophy."

The hefty sterling silver hardware, weighing in at 110 pounds (49.9 kilograms), was commissioned in 1935 by the Borg-Warner Automotive Company and first awarded in 1936.

But it includes the raised silver images of every winning driver dating back to the inaugural "500" in 1911.

It is normally displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum but will arrive in Tokyo on Thursday and be featured in a variety of events in Tokyo, at the Twin Ring Motegi racing circuit and in the Japanese cities of Nabari and Fukuroi.

The tour celebrates not only Sato's victory, but a 12th win for engine manufacturer Honda. The trophy will be on display at Honda Racing's "THANKS DAY" at Motegi on Sunday.

Source: AFP