What happens when the ‘iconic’ Indy 500 Borg-Warner Trophy runs out of room?

 

The Borg-Warner Trophy, an iconic symbol of victory at the Indianapolis 500, made its debut in Victory Lane in 1936. This prestigious trophy was originally designed to feature the sculpted faces of every Indianapolis 500 winner, starting with Ray Harroun, who claimed victory in the inaugural race in 1911. For several decades, the trophy had enough space to accommodate the growing list of champions, each one immortalized in miniature likeness on its silver surface.

However, after Bobby Rahal’s win at the 1986 Indianapolis 500, the trophy ran out of space for additional driver portraits. At that point, every available inch of the original structure had been used, marking the end of an era. Rahal’s likeness would be the last to be placed on the original section of the trophy, capping off a historic sequence that had spanned 75 years of racing excellence.

To address this issue and continue the tradition of honoring each new winner, officials decided to add a base to the trophy starting in 1987. This extension allowed for additional faces to be added without altering the main body of the trophy. The first face to be placed on this new base belonged to Al Unser, who earned the honor by winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 1987.

Since then, the trophy has continued to grow in both size and historical significance. What was once a 4-foot-tall, 80-pound monument has now become a 110-pound, towering piece of racing history, standing 5 feet 4 and three-quarters inches tall. Today, the Borg-Warner Trophy not only symbolizes victory but also serves as a living timeline of the Indianapolis 500’s legacy, preserving the faces and achievements of the sport’s greatest drivers for generations to come.