Al Unser Jr. famously mustered the words, “You just don’t know what Indy means,” following his 1992 Indianapolis 500 victory. At that time, Julie Vance truly didn’t know what the Indianapolis 500 meant.
Over the last 33 years, she found out.
The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will mark the 33rd consecutive year that Vance, a native of Yorktown, Indiana, has made the BorgWarner Victory Lane wreath.
On April 30, just outside the main gate to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Unser presented Vance with a framed, autographed poster to celebrate "33 Years and Counting...." of making the famous wreath that’s awarded to each Indianapolis 500 winner.
“That is a perfect slogan, because when I was 22 and I made the wreath, I don't think I knew what it meant,” she said. “My mom and dad did, and they were so proud. They came down, we got pictures, but I didn’t know the enormous thing that was about to happen. I was a little bit young to understand, but as I've gotten older it's probably the most outstanding thing I can imagine, especially being a florist, because the wreath is the most photographed flower arrangement in the world.”
The wreath symbolizes success. The arrangement draped around the winner’s neck is one of the first things witnessed in the raucous victory lane celebration of an Indianapolis 500 victory.
That moment in 1992 made Unser and Vance synonymous with one another. His first of two Indianapolis 500 victories was the first year Vance constructed the winner’s wreath.
Until Tuesday, they had never met.
“This is super cool,” Unser said. “All these years later, I still remember like it was yesterday. It’s just great to be a part of this of being able to come out here and honor Julie for all these years of her support.”
BorgWarner arranged the ceremony to honor Vance and her creativity and meticulous dedication to creating the wreath each year for more than three decades.
“We are very excited to give Julie this framed picture for all the work she's done for BorgWarner and the trophy over the last 33 years,” said Lauren Simonian, marketing and PR supervisor of BorgWarner. “And we're looking forward to the next 33.”
Vance, who often is known as “The Wreath Lady,” wants to continue this tradition and feels privileged to construct the winner’s wreath each year. She said it’s an incredible moment and words can’t describe the feeling of witnessing the joys of an Indianapolis 500 winner embracing that magical moment while wearing her wreath.
She said her personal front row of three favorite drivers who have worn the wreath she created is comprised of Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Unser.
On Saturday, May 25, Vance will drive this year’s wreath 63 miles from her flower business, Buck Creek in Bloom, located in downtown Yorktown to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to deliver the arrangement in person. A day later, she’ll celebrate the next driver to achieve motorsports immortality after 500 miles of racing in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
