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Borg-Warner Trophy

The Borg-Warner Trophy is the iconic sterling silver award presented annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, one of the most prestigious events in motorsport held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.^[1]^[2] Standing over 5 feet tall and weighing approximately 110 pounds with its added base, the trophy features an Art Deco design with outstretched wings symbolizing speed and bas-relief portraits of every Indianapolis 500 victor since the race's inception in 1911, beginning with Ray Harroun.^[1]^[2] Commissioned in 1935 by BorgWarner (then Borg-Warner Corporation) to replace the previous Wheeler-Schebler Trophy, it was first awarded in 1936 to winner Louie Meyer, who established the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane.^[2] The original trophy, weighing 80 pounds and standing 52 inches (4 feet 4 inches) tall, filled with winners' faces by 1986, prompting the addition of a new base in 1987 to accommodate future honorees; projections indicate another base will be needed by 2035.^[2] Since 1990, sculptor William Behrends has crafted the facial portraits, with the most recent addition being that of 2025 winner Alex Palou, the first Spaniard to claim the victory.^[2]^[3] The full-sized trophy remains on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where it has endured through three Speedway ownership changes, World War II interruptions, and 109 races as of 2025, serving as a symbol of racing excellence and tradition.^[1]^[2] Winners receive a smaller sterling silver replica known as the "Baby Borg," which they keep as a personal memento, while their likeness is unveiled on the main trophy in a ceremonial event following the race.^[2]^[3] This enduring artifact not only honors individual achievements but also connects generations of drivers in the lore of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."^[1]

Origins and History

Commissioning and Early Development

In 1935, the Borg-Warner Corporation commissioned the creation of a perpetual trophy honoring Indianapolis 500 winners, at a cost of $10,000.^[1]^[4] The design, led by Robert J. Hill and crafted by Spaulding-Gorham, Inc., of Chicago, incorporated high-relief sterling silver sculptures depicting all race winners from 1911 onward, symbolizing the event's full legacy up to that point. The original trophy featured bas-relief portraits of the 25 winners from 1911 to 1935.^[5]^[6] This structure ensured the trophy would serve as a cumulative monument, with subsequent victors' likenesses added annually starting from the 1936 race.^[7] The trophy was first unveiled at a dinner hosted by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Eddie Rickenbacker in early 1936, where it was presented to winner Louis Meyer following his victory at the Indianapolis 500, marking his third victory in the event.^[5]^[8] Initially valued at its creation cost of $10,000 for insurance purposes, the piece has since appreciated significantly due to its historical and artistic significance.^[1] It is permanently stored at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum when not on display during race festivities.^[5] To preserve its condition, the trophy underwent refurbishments in 1991, focusing on polishing to restore its luster after decades of maintenance had caused dulling.^[9] These efforts ensured the trophy's enduring integrity as a symbol of motorsport excellence.^[10]

Initial Presentations and Evolution

The Borg-Warner Trophy was first presented to Louis Meyer following his victory in the 1936 Indianapolis 500, marking the trophy's debut as the permanent award for the race winner.^[5] It was subsequently awarded to Wilbur Shaw after his win in 1937 and to Floyd Roberts in 1938, with each recipient's likeness added to the trophy's base shortly thereafter.^[11] Presentation ceremonies have evolved from initial post-race unveilings to structured events in Victory Lane, where the winner receives the trophy immediately after the checkered flag, often accompanied by the traditional milk-drinking ritual.^[3] During the month of May leading up to the race, the trophy is prominently displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and select public locations to build anticipation among fans.^[12] Later in the year, a separate unveiling ceremony adds the winner's sculpted face to the trophy, preserving the tradition of commemorating each champion.^[13] Four drivers hold the record for the most wins and thus the most appearances on the trophy: A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), and Hélio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021).^[14] Recent recipients include Josef Newgarden in 2023 and 2024, and Alex Palou in 2025, with Palou's victory marking his first Indy 500 win and the first for a Spanish driver.^[15] The trophy is owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and maintained under strict security protocols, with an insured value exceeding $3.5 million as of 2025 due to its sterling silver construction and historical significance.^[2] ^[16] A minor historical note involves the 1950 inscription for winner Johnnie Parsons, which was etched as "Johnny" due to a silversmith error and has not been altered.^[17]

Physical Design and Features

Dimensions, Materials, and Construction

The Borg-Warner Trophy measures 5 feet 4.75 inches (164 cm) in height, including its base, and weighs approximately 110 pounds (50 kg).^[5]^[9] It is constructed primarily from sterling silver, comprising about 80 pounds of the material, with the body featuring a hollow design and a removable dome-shaped top.^[5] The trophy incorporates high-relief bas-relief panels for the sculpted elements, which are produced through a process of clay modeling, plaster casting for refinement, metal mold creation, and final silver casting followed by hand-finishing.^[18] This construction allows for the annual addition of new panels while maintaining structural integrity, with the current design providing space for winners' panels through 2033.^[5] To enhance durability, the trophy underwent refurbishments in 1992, which included corrections to engravings and overall restoration, and in 2004, when a new sterling silver base was added for additional panel capacity and stability.^[19]^[20] These modifications, along with the base expansions in 1987 and 2004, reinforce the trophy's ability to support ongoing expansions without compromising its form.^[20] The trophy is permanently housed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in Speedway, Indiana, where it is displayed under secure conditions to protect its value, estimated at over $3.5 million.^[5]^[20] Since 1990, sculptor William Behrends has contributed to its maintenance through the creation of new silver elements.^[18]

Sculptural Elements and Artistry

The sculptural elements of the Borg-Warner Trophy consist of sterling silver bas-relief portraits depicting each Indianapolis 500 winner in racing attire, complete with era-specific helmets that highlight the progression of motorsport safety and design. These portraits, arranged in a continuous spiral band around the trophy's body, capture the drivers' likenesses with remarkable detail, emphasizing their triumphant expressions and individualized gear to symbolize personal achievement within the sport's storied history. The artistry lies in the transition from early 20th-century depictions featuring open-face helmets or goggles to contemporary full-face visors adorned with sponsor logos and aerodynamic features, reflecting technological evolution without altering the trophy's cohesive aesthetic.^[1]^[18] Since 1990, American sculptor William Behrends has crafted all subsequent winner portraits, beginning with Arie Luyendyk's following the 1990 race and continuing through Alex Palou's in 2025, totaling 36 contributions as of that year. Behrends employs a multi-phase process, starting with 360-degree photography and up to 25 reference images per driver, often sculpting directly from life in his North Carolina studio to achieve lifelike accuracy in facial structure, posture, and helmet details. This hands-on approach addresses artistic challenges such as rendering subtle expressions under helmet shadows or adapting historical references for pre-1990 winners' stylistic consistency, ensuring each addition harmonizes with the original design.^[21]^[22]^[23] In recognition of his 33 sculptures completed by 2023, Behrends received an honorary Baby Borg replica at the Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration, underscoring his pivotal role in preserving the trophy's artistic legacy. The trophy's foundational sculptural motifs, designed by Robert J. Hill in 1935 and executed by Spaulding-Gorham, Inc., further enrich its symbolism: bilateral wings evoke the velocity of flight, while the removable sterling silver dome—crowned by a figure brandishing a checkered flag—represents the pinnacle of speed and victorious completion of the race. These elements collectively transform the trophy into a dynamic narrative sculpture, blending individual heroism with collective racing heritage.^[24]^[5]^[18]

Layout and Inscriptions

Front Side Details

The front side of the Borg-Warner Trophy features a series of bas-relief sterling silver panels depicting the faces of Indianapolis 500 winners, beginning with the inaugural victor Ray Harroun positioned at the bottom center of the lowest row.^[25] Subsequent winners' portraits are arranged in chronological order, progressing upward along the front face to highlight the race's early history.^[7] Each panel includes an inscription below the portrait engraving the driver's name, the year of victory, and the average race speed, such as "Ray Harroun 1911 74.602 M.P.H." for the 1911 winner.^[26] These engravings complement the sculptural elements, providing a textual record of achievement alongside the visual representation.^[18] The portraits on the front panels capture drivers in racing attire and poses reflective of their era, underscoring the foundational evolution of the Indianapolis 500 from its 1911 origins. Around 1990, the sculptural style transitioned with the appointment of William Behrends as the primary artist, beginning with Arie Luyendyk's portrait for that year's win, introducing a more refined and consistent aesthetic to the ongoing series.^[22]^[27]

Back Side Details

The back side of the Borg-Warner Trophy continues the chronological sequence of bas-relief panels from the front, documenting Indianapolis 500 winners from the mid-20th century through 1985, prior to the 1986 base addition. These panels feature sterling silver sculpted portraits of the victors, each accompanied by engraved inscriptions specifying the driver's name, year of the win, and average race speed.^[18]^[2] Representative panels on the back include those for Troy Ruttman (1952, average speed 128.922 mph), Bill Vukovich's consecutive victories (1953, 128.740 mph; 1954, 130.840 mph), and A.J. Foyt's era-defining successes (1961, 139.130 mph; 1964, 147.350 mph; 1967, 151.207 mph; 1977, 161.331 mph). The engravings and sculptures maintain the trophy's Art Deco aesthetic, with wing motifs symbolizing speed integrated into the overall design for balanced symmetry across the body.^[28]^[2]

Base Expansions and Modifications

Original Base Addition (1986)

In 1986, following the completion of the 70th space on the original Borg-Warner Trophy with the likeness of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, a new sterling silver base was commissioned and added to the bottom of the trophy to address the overflow of victors and ensure continued capacity for future engravings and sculptures.^[2]^[1] This addition provided 18 additional panel spaces specifically designed for bas-relief portraits of subsequent winners, extending the trophy's ability to chronicle the race's history without alteration to the primary sterling silver body.^[29] Crafted from sterling silver to match the trophy's existing materials and aesthetic, the base not only harmonized with the original design but also increased the overall height, allowing for the physical accommodation of the growing list of victors while maintaining structural integrity.^[5] The installation involved mounting the approximately 4-foot-tall original trophy directly onto the new base, a process handled by skilled artisans to ensure secure attachment and balance, resulting in an initial weight gain that necessitated minor adjustments to the trophy's display pedestal at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for enhanced stability.^[2]^[7] The base introduced the first dedicated sculptures for post-1986 winners, beginning with the 1987 victor Al Unser Sr., whose likeness was the inaugural addition to one of the new panels, followed by subsequent early honorees such as Rick Mears in 1988.^[30] These sterling silver bas-reliefs, each capturing the winners in profile with racing helmets, marked a seamless extension of the trophy's tradition of immortalizing champions and immediately expanded its symbolic capacity to project forward through the late 20th century.^[2]

Expanded Base (2004 Onward)

In 2004, the Borg-Warner Trophy underwent a significant redesign when the original 1986 base was replaced with a larger, more expansive one to accommodate future Indianapolis 500 winners.^[7] This new base, commissioned by BorgWarner, features five rows designed to hold 48 sterling silver bas-relief portraits of winners, providing space for engravings and likenesses through the 2033 race.^[29] Among its prominent elements is a relocated 24-karat gold sculpture of Tony Hulman, the longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway president who owned the track from 1945 until his death in 1977, originally added to the 1986 base as a tribute.^[1] The redesign enhanced the trophy's overall stability and aesthetic harmony with the sterling silver upper body, while increasing its height by 4 inches to a total of approximately 65 inches (5 feet 5 inches) and adding 15 pounds to its weight, bringing the full structure to around 110 pounds.^[29]^[30] The expanded base integrates seamlessly with the trophy's traditional design, ensuring the continued tradition of adding winners' portraits annually in a dedicated ceremony, typically months after each race.^[5] As of 2025, the base has incorporated recent victors, including Josef Newgarden's likenesses for his consecutive wins in 2023 and 2024, and Alex Palou's for his 2025 triumph, the first for a Spanish driver.^[3]^[23] These additions follow a meticulous process involving sculpting by artist William Behrends, who has crafted all portraits since 1990.^[23] Post-2004, maintenance has focused on preservation and minor updates to support ongoing use, including regular polishing of the sterling silver components by BorgWarner custodians to prevent tarnish and ensure structural integrity.^[5] No major structural modifications have occurred since the redesign, allowing the base to fulfill its projected capacity without further expansions in the foreseeable future.^[7]

The Baby Borg Replica

Creation and Purpose

The Baby Borg, officially known as the BorgWarner Championship Driver's Trophy, was introduced in 1988 as a scaled-down replica of the full-sized Borg-Warner Trophy to provide Indianapolis 500 winners with a personal keepsake.^[16] This initiative was suggested by that year's victor, Rick Mears, allowing drivers to retain a tangible memento of their achievement while the original trophy remains on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.^[16] Crafted from sterling silver with a lacquered wood base, the Baby Borg stands 20 inches tall, weighs 5 pounds, and is significantly lighter than the original, enhancing its portability for winners.^[31]^[5] The replica's design mirrors key elements of the Borg-Warner Trophy, featuring a bas-relief sculptural image identical to the main version, along with a trapezoidal silver plaque engraved with the winner's name, year, average speed, and other race details.^[16] These updated engravings and the addition of the driver's sterling silver bas-relief portrait ensure the Baby Borg serves as an evolving personal record that parallels the perpetual updates to the original trophy.^[16] The piece is handcrafted by the same artisans responsible for the full trophy, including sculptor William Behrends, who has contributed since 1990.^[16] In 1998, BorgWarner expanded the tradition by introducing the Championship Team Owner's Trophy, a variant of the Baby Borg awarded to the car owner of the previous year's winner—in this case, for the 1997 Indianapolis 500 victor Arie Luyendyk.^[5]^[32] This owner's version retains the core sterling silver construction and 20-inch height but incorporates gold-accented art deco racecar motifs on the base for distinction.^[16]^[5] Like the driver's edition, it includes mirrored engravings and sculptural elements to honor the team's role in the victory.^[16]

Notable Presentations and Variations

The Baby Borg replica was first presented to Rick Mears in January 1989, following his win in the 1988 Indianapolis 500.^[5] Since that time, the presentation has become a standard tradition at the annual event, where the winning driver receives the 20-inch trophy in a formal ceremony honoring their achievement, typically in January following the race.^[33]^[31] One notable exception occurred in 2011 following the tragic death of Dan Wheldon during the IZOD IndyCar World Championships season finale, after his Indianapolis 500 victory earlier that year; his wife, Susie Wheldon, accepted the posthumous Baby Borg on behalf of their family during the 2012 Victory Celebration.^[34] In a special recognition of legacy, A.J. Foyt received a unique Baby Borg in May 2022 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, commemorating his four Indianapolis 500 wins as a driver; this one-of-a-kind version featured a custom trapezoidal marble base engraved on each side to represent one of his victories, without including a sculpted likeness.^[33]^[35] Continuing the tradition of honoring contributions beyond drivers, sculptor William Behrends was awarded an honorary Baby Borg in May 2023 at the Victory Celebration, acknowledging his decades-long role in crafting the bas-relief portraits for the original Borg-Warner Trophy since 1990.^[21] Variations of the Baby Borg include replicas presented to team owners, a practice that began with the 1997 Indianapolis 500 winner and has continued annually thereafter; these owner versions feature a distinctive gold-accented band of art-deco racing cars around the base, distinguishing them from the driver's award.^[5] For non-driver honorees like Foyt and Behrends, custom engravings and modifications—such as personalized bases or omitted sculptural elements—have been incorporated to reflect the specific nature of the recognition.^[33]^[24] The tradition continued with the 2024 presentation to Josef Newgarden and Roger Penske for Newgarden's second consecutive victory.^[31]

Cultural and Symbolic Role

Lore and Anecdotes

One of the earliest quirky incidents involving the Borg-Warner Trophy occurred in 1953, when Butler University student and fraternity member Jack Mackenzie served as its caretaker. Mackenzie stored the trophy in his dormitory room during the month of May, but upon returning from a date one evening, he discovered it missing from the fraternity house. It had been temporarily "stolen" by fellow fraternity brothers as a prank and taken to a party in the basement, where it was repurposed as an impromptu drinking vessel before being recovered unharmed.^[2] In 1950, the trophy's engravers committed a notable error when inscribing the name of winner Johnnie Parsons, carving it as "Johnny" instead of the correct spelling with an "ie." This misspelling, the only such instance on the trophy, stemmed from the silversmith's familiarity with Parsons' son, also named Johnny, who later competed at Indianapolis. During a 1991 restoration project, correcting the error was proposed posthumously but not implemented.^[36] The handling and display of the Borg-Warner Trophy have evolved significantly over the decades to enhance security and prevent mishandling. Early caretakers like Mackenzie transported the lightweight trophy (weighing about 80 pounds) in personal vehicles, often concealed under an army blanket during parades and events to avoid drawing undue attention or risk of damage. By the 1980s, professional security measures replaced student custodians, and in 2012, coinciding with the debut of the Dallara DW12 chassis, a custom presentation platform was introduced to securely mount the trophy on the winner's car during victory celebrations, minimizing the risk of it toppling or being mishandled amid post-race excitement.^[2]^[37] Winners' reactions to receiving the trophy have often added to its lore, such as 1936 victor Louie Meyer, who, upon being presented with it alongside a bottle of buttermilk at his mother's request, inadvertently started the tradition of Indy 500 winners drinking milk in victory lane—a ritual that persists today. Transport incidents have occasionally tested the trophy's resilience, including close calls during Mackenzie's era when it was jostled in his car trunk en route to festivals, though no major damages were reported; more recently, the 2024 Hurricane Helene disrupted engraving processes but spared the physical artifact.^[2]^[38]

Legacy in Media and Events

The Borg-Warner Trophy has made notable appearances in film and television, underscoring its status as a cultural icon of motorsport. In the 1969 film Winning, directed by James Goldstone and starring Paul Newman as race car driver Frank Capua, the trophy is prominently featured in a victory celebration scene where a fan admires it after Newman's character secures a win. This portrayal highlights the trophy's allure, though it inaccurately depicts the winner carrying the 80-pound sterling silver artifact single-handedly at a party, a liberty taken for dramatic effect. The trophy has also been showcased in various television broadcasts, including special unveilings of winners' likenesses on networks like Fox 59 and NBC Sports, as well as mentions in game shows such as Jeopardy!, where it represents the pinnacle of IndyCar achievement. Representations of the Borg-Warner Trophy extend to video games within the IndyCar series, where it symbolizes ultimate victory and is often depicted as the prize for completing the Indianapolis 500 simulation. For instance, early titles like the Atari game Indy 500 featured the trophy on cover art, while modern simulations such as iRacing incorporate it as an in-game award to immerse players in the race's prestige. These digital portrayals reinforce the trophy's role in popularizing open-wheel racing among gaming audiences. The trophy plays a central role in public events surrounding the Indianapolis 500, particularly during the Month of May festivities in Indianapolis. It is regularly displayed at the AES 500 Festival Parade, a highlight of pre-race activities that draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, where it serves as a focal point alongside floats, marching bands, and IndyCar drivers. This annual showcase, held the day before the race, emphasizes the trophy's communal significance in building excitement for the event. Symbolically, the Borg-Warner Trophy is revered as the "Holy Grail" of American open-wheel racing, representing not just victory but immortality through the addition of the winner's bas-relief likeness to its base. For drivers, securing a place on the trophy is the ultimate career milestone, evoking legends of speed, endurance, and legacy since its debut in 1936. Its influence extends beyond motorsport, serving as a benchmark for prestigious awards in other sports; for example, its intricate sterling silver design and historical accumulation of honorees have inspired comparisons to icons like the Stanley Cup in hockey, positioning it as a model for enduring, narrative-driven trophies that chronicle achievement across generations. Recent cultural nods have further amplified the trophy's prestige, as seen in coverage of Alex Palou's 2025 Indianapolis 500 victory. Media outlets highlighted the win's monumental status, with Palou himself noting in interviews that claiming the Borg-Warner Trophy felt "much bigger" than his prior INDYCAR championships, underscoring its unparalleled reverence in the sport. This triumph, marking the first Spanish driver's Indy 500 success, generated widespread acclaim across platforms like AP News and Sportskeeda, reinforcing the trophy's role as a timeless emblem of racing excellence.

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