For all that the Indianapolis 500 likes to differentiate itself from other racing events with its lore, tradition, pomp and circumstance; it follows the norms of other competitions by having an illustrious trophy at the heart of its post-race ceremonies, and this being Indianapolis, it should come as no surprise that the race is able to boast one of the most recognized and spectacular in all of competitive sport. The Borg-Warner Trophy pays tribute to many of the most revered drivers in auto racing history year-round, but during the month of May it becomes the focal point for the drivers attempting to qualify for the 500. It is a reminder of the glory and tradition associated with winning the fabled event. With victory at the Brickyard comes the honour of having one’s face sculpted onto the 79-year-old trophy, and in today’s update we’ll be taking a look at the history and back-story behind this 5ft beacon of 500 success.

The story of the Borg Warner Trophy dates back to 1935, when the Borg-Warner Automotive Company commissioned designer Robert J. Hill to create a ceremonial trophy for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a cost of $10,000. Unveiled at a black-tie dinner hosted by then-Speedway owner Eddie Rickenbacker, the Borg-Warner Trophy was officially declared the annual prize for Indianapolis 500 victors, with the sculpture being presented for the first time to Louis Meyer following his third 500 triumph in 1936, with the New Yorker describing the accolade as “like winning an Olympic gold medal”. Prior to the introduction of the Borg Warner, the winner of the race had been rewarded with a small plaque sponsored by the Indiana department store Levi-Strauss, along with a revamped version of the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy designed to reward the owner of the car leading the race at the 400 mile mark.

Weighing in at 153lbs, the Borg Warner’s most unique design feature can be seen on its base, with the trophy featuring 99 individual silver carvings displaying each of the previous winners of the race, beginning with Ray Harroun at the top of the design and working towards its base in an anti-clockwise direction. As well as this, information concerning each of the race winner’s 500 triumphs are also inscripted onto the design, namely the driver’s name, year of victory, and average speed, alternating with the faces of each driver in a checkerboard pattern. Following his passing in 1977, the likeness of former 500 president Tony Hulman was added to the design as a mark of respect for the businessman’s 30 year ownership of the speedway, albeit with Hulman’s likeness on the design coated in gold rather then the traditional silver.

Originally, the trophy was designed to incorporate seventy faces, but after Danny Sullivan’s win in the 1985 500 brought the number of victors to 69, the decision was made to revamp the base of the Borg Warner to allow room for further winners of the race, the restoration job finally being completed prior to the final spot on the original trophy being filled by Bobby Rahal’s victory in the 1986 running of the race. Following Helio Castroneves’ victory in the 2002 running of the race, the old base was replaced by a new design consisting of five rows of twelve squares, allowing room for a further 48 faces taking the current design up until the 2033 running of the 500.

Despite the meticulous detail that goes into updating the Borg Warner year on year, the trophy does feature a number of quirks on its design. As of 2015, Tom Sneva is the only driver on the design to be wearing sunglasses, a design feature insisted by the Gas Man following his victory in the 1983 running of the race. Bobby Rahal’s likeness also featured glasses after his win in 1986, only for the design feature to fall off his design after the trophy was bumped prior to the 1993 500. Ironically Rahal failed to qualify for the race, leading some superstitious observers pointed out the incident as a bad omen. Other quirks can also be seen on the design, including an incorrect spelling for 1950 winner Johnny Parsons and two time champion Juan Pablo Montoya listed as “Juan Montoya” for 2000 and as “Juan Pablo Montoya” for 2015.

Despite the wealth, fame and fortune that comes with 500 success. The Borg Warner remains the ultimate ceremonial prize at the Indianapolis 500, each driver knowing that 200 perfect laps of racing will see their faces forever immortalised in silver as part of one of sport’s most iconic and legendary designs, one that arguably remains one of the most iconic throughout all of sport.

In today’s video we look at the processes that went into adding Juan Pablo Montoya’s face to the Borg Warner following his win in the 2015 running of the race.