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In sports, nothing compares to winning it all and hoisting the trophy in the air. In motorsports—specifically, the Indianapolis 500—getting your face engraved on the Borg-Warner Trophy is one of INDYCAR’s greatest honors.
Lasting through a world war and 82,500-mile races, the Borg-Warner Trophy is still a sight to behold. It is the only physical award to have the winner’s face engraved each year.
With hardware of that importance and fame comes plenty of defining moments that some motorsports fans may not be familiar with. Learn more about the evolution of the famed Borg-Warner trophy over the years ahead of Sunday’s 110th running of the Indy 500 (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
1. The trophy weighs 100+ pounds and is more than 5 feet tall
The trophy isn’t something you can carry on the floor of your passenger seat, but it’s big enough to compare to a human. The trophy is approximately 5-foot-4 and weighs 110 pounds.
The tradition of the trophy is to add a physical face carved into it.
Originally, the trophy stood at 4-foot-3 inches with room for 70 winners. As the tradition progressed, the trophy has been changed twice – once in 1987 and once in 2004 – to provide extra space for winners all the way through 2033.
2. There are 104 faces carved into the trophies, but only 101 races completed
How could there have been 104 faces carved into the trophy but only 101 runs completed? This is because multiple drivers occasionally share a winning car, awarding places to both drivers if they cross the finish line first.
The trophy was first introduced in 1931 despite the first race starting in 1911. Even with 20 years of previous winners, the face tradition began the year it was introduced when Louis Meyer was the first face to be engraved. Ironically, the three-time winner was also at the forefront of the iconic milk celebration tradition.
3. How much does the trophy cost?
Considering the 110 pound trophy is made entirely of sterling silver, the trophy comes with a hefty price tag.
Currently, the trophy is valued at $3.5 million. Originally, when the trophy originally weighed 80 pounds and stood 52 inches tall, it was listed at $10,000.
4. The winner takes home a 14-inch copy
While the winners of the Indy 500 pose next to the sterling silver award after victory, the trophy is actually returned to its home base at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The drivers will take home hardware known as the “Baby Borg,” a 14-inch exact replica of the real Borg-Warner trophy.
What is worth noting is that Baby Borg has not existed since Borg-Warner was introduced. It was led by four-time winner Ricky Mears in 1989.
The drivers still went home with something instead of nothing. In 1936, the winners received a small wooden plaque with their name engraved and half a replica of the trophy. Mears’ idea quickly came to life in 1989 when he received the 14-inch replica with his name, winning year and his face engraved into the base of the trophy.
5. The origin of the naked man on top of the trophy
The main attraction of the Borg-Warner trophy is the engraved faces, but what if there was a funny story behind the naked man on top of the trophy?
The top of the trophy includes a completely naked man – yes, completely naked – waving around a checkered flag. But why is he completely naked? The design was modeled after a Greek athlete who used to compete naked. The Borg-Warner trophy embodies the Olympic spirit, which is why the trophy’s mascot is shown naked.
6. How many repeating faces are there?
Of the total of 112 faces on the Borg-Warner trophy, there are a total of 35 recurring faces of multiple winners. And yes, they recast the exact face to the same winning base if they are a repeat winner.
Some drivers have won four times (Helio Castroneves, AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears), three times (Louis Meyer, Mauri Rose and Wilbur Shaw) and 12 drivers have appeared twice.
