The storied history of the Indianapolis 500 Borg Warner trophy
SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WEHT)- This Sunday will be the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. The race features 33 drivers, all hoping to win the Borg Warner trophy. The trophy is now under strict security and not allowed to be touched by the public, but that hasn't always been the case.
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Jack Mackenzie is the most photographed man in victory lane, but he wasn't a driver or even an employee of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was a 6'4″ Butler basketball player who happened to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right build for the job of a lifetime. Mackenzie served as 'caretaker' for the Borg Warner trophy for three decades, starting at the age of 22 in 1953 to 1983. As caretaker, Mackenize would babysit and transport the trophy for the entire month of May, taking it to festivals, parades, dinners, carb days, and of course, race day.
Mackenzie's daughter, Liz Mackenzie Freiherr, recalls the trophy being around the house so much, she thought it was just another piece of furniture. 'A lot of people don't know that the lid comes off, and so when I was about two years old, my dad took a picture of me inside the trophy. I may be the only girl who's been photographed inside the Borg Warner trophy. It was just a common, everyday thing in our house, no big deal to all of us,' says Mackenzie Frieherr.
For three decades, Jack Mackenzie looked after the trophy with everything he had. Looking back at all the photos in Victory Lane, he can often be spotted standing with the silver trophy clasped tightly in his hands as the champion drinks their winner's milk. The trophy is now under strict security, with its value listed at over $3.5 million. Today, taking care of it requires a dedicated team, rather than being a one-man job.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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