AVONDALE, La. – Incorporating the fleur de lis in the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana trophy design was a given. Beyond that, Ruth Chouest says, “I’m putting the funk in Indy.”

The trophies to be presented to the podium finishers and winning team owner April 12 following the inaugural race on the 2.74-mile, 13-turn road course capture the personality of the Big Easy, state and -- through extension -- venue owner Dr. Laney Chouest and his wife, Ruth.

There’s a bit of whimsy, too. On the translucent turquoise body of the champion’s trophy are two alligators biting each other’s tail. An alligator preparing to take a bite out of a tire is on the second- and third-place trophies. A red fleur de lis is atop all the trophies.

Local artist Marshall Gaudet was commissioned to create the trophies.

“I’ve been in the art community for a long time and when I’m thinking about a trophy I’m going to the art community,” said Ruth Chouest, a jeweler by trade. “I don’t want to go to a trophy maker. I just love the strength of it, and it conveys the ferocious, wild nature of this sport.

“To me, turquoise became an obvious choice because turquoise and red are complementary colors. Also, it brought in this funky Indian, Louisiana feel. I’m sure that the racing community in general doesn’t see this kind of stuff.”

Chouest also has been instrumental in designing the interior spaces and exterior colors of the main buildings on the 750-acre property.

“My husband is a visionary who has really big ideas but I wind up being the nuts and bolts,” she said. “I really didn’t want to be involved with the project but what happened was I came out here one day and there were things that I thought were kind of nutty.

“I took the drawings home one day and took my crayons and colored all the buildings, so that’s why when you drive into the place it looks like somebody really thought about what’s happening here. The red stripes on the buildings, the silver metal.”

The facility regularly hosts corporate and automotive events, along with karting competitions on the serpentine track on the grounds.

“We wanted a place that would be welcoming and interesting, and so when they step into this space they know they’re not just on some racetrack. They’re on our racetrack and they take that home with them,” Ruth Chouest said.