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| Borg-Warner Trophy | |
|---|---|
 The Borg-Warner Trophy on display at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum | |
| Awarded for | Winner of theIndianapolis 500 |
| Sponsored by | BorgWarner |
| Location | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Country | United States |
| Reward | Miniature trophy replica |
| First award | 1936 |
| Currently held by | Alex Palou |
| Most awards | (4)A. J. Foyt,Al Unser,Rick Mears,Helio Castroneves |
| Website | BorgWarner.com |
TheBorg-Warner Trophy is thetrophy presented to the winner of theIndianapolis 500. It is named for and was commissioned by automotive supplierBorgWarner. It is permanently housed at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum inSpeedway, Indiana. Unveiled at a 1936 dinner hosted by then-Speedway ownerEddie Rickenbacker, the trophy was officially declared the annual prize for Indianapolis 500 victors. It was first presented at the24th annual 500-mile race, whereLouis Meyer, that year's champion and its first recipient, soon thereafter remarked, "Winning the Borg-Warner Trophy is like winning anOlympic medal."
Alex Palou won the2025 Indianapolis 500, and is the current reigning champion. Each year, the winning driver is presented with a miniature replica ("Baby Borg") during a reception, which for the 2019 race was presented in early September, about three months after the race. Prior to the trophy's inception, theStrauss Trophy (first awarded in 1919) was once presented to the winner. TheWheeler-Schebler Trophy was awarded to the leader at the 400-mile mark, but was retired when car ownerHarry Hartz claimed it three times.
The trophy, which has been presented in the winner's circle after every race since 1936, is a very large, multi-tiered item which bears thehigh relief sculpture of the likeness of each driver to have won the race since its inception in 1911. Inscribed are the winner's name, year of victory, and average speed. This information is alternated with the faces in acheckerboard pattern, evoking acheckered flag. Included on the base is the gold likeness ofTony Hulman, owner of theIndianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 to 1977. On the top of the trophy is an unclothed man waving a checkered flag. Because this man is depicted naked, after the traditional depiction of athletes inancient Greek art, the trophy is most often photographed at an angle so that the man's arm blocks the view of the figure's genitalia.
In 1935, the Borg-Warner Automotive Company commissioned designerRobert J. Hill andGorham, Inc., ofProvidence, Rhode Island to create the trophy at a cost of$10,000. The trophy underwent a refurbishment in 1991 and again in 2004. Today it is insured in excess of $1.3 million.
Made ofsterling silver, the trophy is just under 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall and weighs nearly 153 pounds (69 kg). The trophy body itself is hollow, and thedome-shaped top is removable. From 1936 to 1985, the trophy appeared in its original form, with the bottom rim of the body serving as its stand. The original body had room for 70 winners of the Indy 500, and was destined to fill up after the1986 winner was affixed. During the early years, the trophy waspolished often for protection, but appeared too seldom be buffed to a glossy "mirror finish" and often was seen with a dull ormatte finish. At no point has the trophy been allowed to fall in a state oftarnish or major disrepair. When the race was suspended duringWorld War II, the trophy was stored in a secure location.
A base was added in 1986 to accommodate more winners, similar to what has been done with theStanley Cup. In 1991, the trophy went through a thorough restoration. In 2004, the first base was removed, and replaced with a new, larger base to accommodate more winners. Enough space is currently available to hold all winners through 2033.
Since 1990 the winning drivers' likenesses on both the Borg-Warner Trophy and the replica trophies have been sculpted by prominent American sculptorWilliam Behrends, who also created the statue of baseball greatWillie Mays that stands at the entrance toOracle Park inSan Francisco.[1]
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The actual perpetual trophy is not given to the winner; it remains at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on the grounds of theIndianapolis Motor Speedway. The winning drivers since 1988 have been presented with an 18-inch (460 mm) tall free-standing replica of the trophy, sitting on abeveled square base. Officially titled the "Indianapolis 500 Champion Driver's Trophy,", it has been affectionately nicknamed the "Baby Borg." The Baby Borg is typically presented the following January at a Speedway reception or sometimes at theNorth American International Auto Show in Detroit, near trophy sponsor BorgWarner's headquarters.
Starting with the 1997 race, a second Baby Borg was added, presented to the winning car owner(s), officially named the "Indianapolis 500 Champion Owner's Trophy". The owner's trophy is nearly identical to the driver's trophy, except it is mounted upon a round base. Multiple owner's trophies are presented if there are co-owners to the winning team.
The bas-relief likenesses from the main trophy are not replicated on the Baby Borgs, nor is the cylindrical base of the main trophy (the first of which was added in 1986). In some years, a duplicate of the sculpted likeness of the winner has been affixed to the beveled base of the driver's Baby Borg trophy. The driver's trophy can be lifted from its base if desired.
Prior to 1988, winners received an 24-inch (610 mm) upright model of the trophy mounted on a walnut plaque. Since then, some pre-1988 winners have been presented with the newer Baby Borg version.[2][3] In 2011, race winnerDan Wheldon wasfatally injured before he received his Baby Borg. His widow Susie accepted the trophy in his honor.
In 2003, 3-time champion Bobby Unser was awarded the newer Champion Drivers Trophy in a surprise event for the2002 race winnerHélio Castroneves' celebration. Since 2013, starting withParnelli Jones (the1963 winner), the Speedway began a tradition of presenting living winners the newer Champion Drivers Trophy on the 50th anniversary of their wins had they not been awarded a Baby Borg. Jones,Mario Andretti (2019), andAl Unser Sr. (2020) have each been awarded with such on the 50th anniversaries of their wins. Since then, the procedure has been conducted on different drivers who had not been awarded a Baby Borg, regardless of years since their win. In 2021,Gordon Johncock was awarded Baby Borgs to represent his 1973 and 1982 wins at his Johncock Forestry Products business inSouth Branch, Michigan during a birthday party organised by BorgWarner. In 2022,A. J. Foyt, who has an owner's Baby Borg from 1999, was awarded a driver's Baby Borg, without the sculpted likeness, but with each side carrying one of his four wins, in 2022. In 2023, William Behrends was given a Baby Borg by BorgWarner in celebration of being the artist on the past 33 Indianapolis 500 winners, as traditionally the field consists of 33 cars.[4]
While the perpetual trophy is not given to the winner, it has, on occasion, traveled to various locations to honor the winner. In 2017, the trophy traveled to Japan accompanyingTakuma Sato on a victory tour of his home country,[5] and went on display in Sweden afterMarcus Ericsson's win in 2022.[6]
Odd features have been put on the driver's likeness on the "Baby Borg" since it was introduced in 1988. In 2013,Parnelli Jones' trophy featured a cowboy hat on his head (prior to 1970, champions were wearing an open-face helmet on their sculptures; since the bas-relief bust of the driver was newly created by Behrends, it was done without helmet and with the cowboy hat he wore primarily during that season). In 2019, because of fan requests,Simon Pagenaud's Baby Borg also featured the likeness of hisJack Russell terrier Norman. BorgWarner added a donation to the Humane Society of Indiana as part of the event, primarily because the dog had participated in the winner's circle photos.[7]
The trophy has had quite a history; track historianDonald Davidson has noted a particular story in which aButler University student was given the trophy to watch in the 1930s before race day. The young man hid the trophy under his bed one night and proceeded to have a night out. Upon his return to hisfraternity house, the man found the trophy missing. He looked and looked and became very worried about the trophy's whereabouts. Upon looking in the frat house's basement, he found the trophy surrounded by men who were drinking beer out of it. All of 115 beers were inside of the trophy. Emptying the beer, he wondered how he would get the smell off of the trophy and decided to take a shower – taking the trophy in with him.
The winner of the1950 Indianapolis 500,Johnnie Parsons, had his name misspelled on the trophy. It was scripted into the silver as "Johnny" Parsons (which incidentally, is how hisson's name was spelled). Evidence of the engraver's mistake can be seen inMGM’s 1950 movieTo Please a Lady. In a scene in which they filmed the trophy and feature a shot of Johnnie Parsons’ bust image, his name is clearly misspelled.[8] During the 1991 restoration, it was proposed by the handlers to correct the spelling, even though Parsons had died seven years earlier. The decision was made to leave the misspelling in place as part of the trophy's historic lore.
Through 1985, the trophy was hoisted by handlers directly behind the driver, typically on theroll bar of the car. The trophy could be easily carried by one individual, and was usually simple to transport. After the trophy was affixed with a base in 1986, the trophy's weight, height, and stability became an issue with displaying it on top of the car. At least two men were required to balance the trophy behind the driver. Since about 2004, when the trophy was expanded with the newer base, it is no longer hoisted behind the driver. Initially, the now-heavier trophy was displayed next to the car. However, the trophy was often mired in the tight, crowded confines of victory lane, and became less visible and even risked damage due to the bustling, celebrating crowd. For 2012, coinciding with the introduction of the DW-12 chassis, a special platform was constructed that fits between or behind the rear wheels and rear wing of the cars. The trophy is now placed upon this platform during the victory lane celebration, giving it once again a prominent and more visible presence during the celebration.
Two or more safety patrol workers are assigned with guarding and transporting the trophy during the month of May. It is polished often, and polished several times during the month of May. In contrast to the earlier years, the trophy is almost exclusivelypolished and buffed to an elegant, glossy, "mirror finish." During routine times of the month, it is usually situated upon a large, sturdy, custom-built rolling dolly.
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The trophy has appeared in several films, includingWinning (1969), starringPaul Newman, andTurbo (2013). During the month of May, the trophy has several prominent locations for display. During time trials, the trophy is typically displayed outdoors on a platform near the start/finish line. During down times, it returns to the museum. It also makes several appearances, including the Public Drivers' Meeting and the500 Festival Parade, as well as prominent socials events and gatherings (such as banquets and balls downtown).
The Borg-Warner Trophy was exclusively featured on the cover of the Indianapolis 500 Official Program in 1981, 1998, and 2002. It also appeared on the cover in lesser prevalence in 1988, 1996, and 2006. It is depicted in the cover art of theAtari video gameIndy 500, in theMidway pinball machineIndianapolis 500, and on the cover art for thePapyrusIndyCar Racing Indianapolis Motor Speedway Expansion Pack.
When the trophy debuted in 1936, it was complete with the likenesses of all winners from 1911 to 1935 (except 1917–1918, as the race was not held those two years due toWorld War I). Sculptor John Grawe created the twenty-four likenesses representing the first 23 races, including the two co-winners for the1924 race. Twenty-two of the likenesses were created featuring the driver wearing hishelmet andgoggles. Two faces, those of1912 winnerJoe Dawson and1921 winnerTommy Milton, showed the driver without a helmet.
The likeness were placed beginning with1911 winnerRay Harroun situated in the middle square of the first row of the front side. Subsequent faces were added encircling the trophy to the right, however the starting squares for each row varied.
When the winners began to be added annually after 1936, most through 1970 were depicted wearing an open-face helmet.Floyd Davis, who co-won the1941 race withMauri Rose, was depicted without a helmet, while Rose was depicted with one. By 1946, most were shown without their goggles. The likeness of1957 winnerSam Hanks was the final one to feature goggles. The likeness of1970 winnerAl Unser is the last to be depicted wearing a helmet (by that time, drivers were wearing full-face helmets, so the feasibility of helmets on drivers was impossible). When he won again the following year, his 1971 likeness was shown with natural hair. It has been standard practice to sculpt a brand new likeness for repeat winners, including drivers who have won in consecutive years.
The likeness of 1986 winnerBobby Rahal originally featured miniature glasses, as Rahal woreglasses at the time. The tiny spectacles were crafted from metal wire. In 1993, the trophy was reportedly bumped and the glasses fell off the trophy and were broken.[9] The glasses were repaired and later reattached. Rahal failed to qualify for the 1993 race, and some superstitious observers pointed out the incident as a bad omen. The glasses were removed permanently after Rahal started wearingcontacts in the mid-1990s.Tom Sneva, the 1983 winner, insisted his likeness include glasses, and they remain to this day.
Two drivers, both of whom are multiple winners, have their respective names depicted differently in different years. Four-time winnerAl Unser has his name listed as "Al Unser" for his likenesses of1970,1971, and1978. He is listed as "Al Unser Sr." for his1987 win, owing much to the fact that his son (two-time winnerAl Unser Jr.) was now a driver. Two-time winnerJuan Pablo Montoya is listed as "Juan Montoya" for2000 and as "Juan Pablo Montoya" for2015.
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| Howard Wilcox 1919 88.06 M.P.H | | Ray Harroun 1911 74.59 M.P.H | | Joe Dawson 1912 74.7 M.P.H | |
| Frank Lockhart 1926 95.885 M.P.H | | Gaston Chevrolet 1920 88.50 M.P.H | | Tommy Milton 1921 89.62 M.P.H | | Jimmy Murphy 1922 94.48 M.P.H |
| George Souders 1927 97.54 M.P.H | | Louis Meyer 1928 99.482 M.P.H | | Ray Keech 1929 97.585 M.P.H | |
| Bill Cummings 1934 104.863 M.P.H | | Kelly Petillo 1935 106.240 M.P.H | | Louis Meyer 1936 109.069 M.P.H | | Wilbur Shaw 1937 113.580 M.P.H |
| George Robson 1946 114.820 M.P.H | | Mauri Rose 1947 116.338 M.P.H | | Mauri Rose 1948 119.814 M.P.H | |
| Troy Ruttman 1952 128.922 M.P.H | | Bill Vukovich 1953 128.740 M.P.H | | Bill Vukovich 1954 130.840 M.P.H | | Bob Sweikert 1955 128.209 M.P.H |
| Jim Rathmann 1960 138.767 M.P.H | | A. J. Foyt 1961 139.130 M.P.H | | Rodger Ward 1962 140.293 M.P.H | |
| A. J. Foyt 1967 151.207 M.P.H | | Bobby Unser 1968 152.882 M.P.H | | Mario Andretti 1969 156.867 M.P.H | | Al Unser 1970 155.949 M.P.H |
| Bobby Unser 1975 149.213 M.P.H | | Johnny Rutherford 1976 148.728 M.P.H | | A. J. Foyt 1977 161.831 M.P.H | |
| Tom Sneva 1983 162.117 M.P.H | Rick Mears 1984 163.612 M.P.H | Danny Sullivan 1985 152.882 M.P.H | Bobby Rahal 1986 170.722 M.P.H |
Following the1985 Indianapolis 500, the likeness of race winnerDanny Sullivan was added to the trophy. His face filled the 69th of the original 70 squares on the trophy body. Only one square remained on the body, which would be filled by the 1986 winner.
In the weeks prior to the1986 Indianapolis 500, in celebration of the trophy's 50th anniversary, a new cylindrical three-row base was added to the bottom of the trophy. It featured room for an additional 18 faces. On the base, the first square was filled with a gold likeness of the late Speedway presidentTony Hulman. The base increased the height of the trophy to 55 inches (1,400 mm), and the weight to about 95 pounds (43 kg).
The trophy spent the month of May 1986 with one empty square left on the body, and now room for 17 additional winners on the base. The base would have enough room for winners through 2003. Bobby Rahal won the 1986 race, and was the final likeness added to the body of the trophy.
Al Unser won the1987 race, and became the first race winner to have his likeness added to the first base of the trophy. Unser also became the first winner to have likenesses on the body of the trophy (1970, 1971, 1978) as well as the base (1987). The layout and lettering of the base mimicked that of the trophy body. The driver's name was enscripted in one single line, followed by the year on the next line, and the race average speed below on the third line.
The likeness of 1989 Indianapolis 500 winnerEmerson Fittipaldi was created by 88-year old French sculptorLouis Feron, using therepouseé technique. Feron used a single flat sheet of silver and painstakingly hammered it into the shape of Fittipaldi's face.[10]
In 1991, a restoration project was conducted on the trophy. As part of the project, a reinforcement rim was added to the base for stability. The refurbishment increased the height of the trophy to 60 inches (1,500 mm), and the weight to over 110 pounds (50 kg).
The final likeness added to the original base was that ofHélio Castroneves, winner of the2002 race.
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Following the 2003 race the first base added in 1986 was removed and replaced with a larger, similar looking one. It consisted of five rows of twelve squares, allowing room for 48 faces. The likenesses ofTony Hulman and the 1987–2002 winners were relocated to the new base. The likeness of2003 winnerGil de Ferran was the first new face to be added to the new base. The new base added at least 15 pounds (6.8 kg) and more than 4 inches (100 mm) to the trophy, which now stands at64+1⁄2 inches (1,640 mm), and weighs nearly 150 pounds (68 kg). The current base is expected to accommodate winners through 2033.
One notable difference on the new base is reflected in the descriptions. All listings on the new base script the driver's first name on the first line, surname on the second line, followed by the year on the third line, and average speed on the fourth line. On the old base, and on the trophy body, the drivers' names are written in one single line.
Due to the increased weight and size of the trophy, it was no longer possible to hoist the trophy atop the winning car in victory lane. Handlers would place the trophy on the ground in victory lane, near the rear of the machine, but this often left the trophy obscured from view by the many people surrounding the car. Likewise in the tight confines of victory lane, the trophy was now susceptible to someone bumping into it, risking damage, requiring special care by the handlers. Starting in 2012, with the introduction of theDallara DW-12 chassis, a special platform was constructed to display the trophy in a more prominent fashion in victory lane. As soon as the car pulls into victory lane, the customized platform is securely placed behind the rear wing or over one of the rear wheels. The trophy is immediately placed upon the platform, and is displayed in a safer and highly visible location. In addition, during the month when the trophy is displayed trackside, it is typically placed on a decorative dolly for easy transportation.
