Magic Moment: Roger Penske and 20 ‘Baby Borgs’
JAN 17, 2025
Here’s a racing photo for the ages: Roger Penske with his record 20 “Baby Borg” trophies.
The photo (credit: Michael L. Levitt) celebrates Team Penske’s record-extending 20th victory in the Indianapolis 500 last May, when Josef Newgarden earned his second career “500” win in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. The “Baby Borg” is the nickname of the Championship Team Owner’s Trophy, a miniature replica of the famous Borg-Warner Trophy awarded to the Indianapolis 500 winner.
Team Penske earned its first “500” victory in 1972, with driver Mark Donohue. It has earned 20 Indy 500 wins in the last 53 editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” an incredible winning strike rate of 38 percent.
During that unparalleled era of excellence, Team Penske drivers have won three consecutive “500s” just once: Helio Castroneves (2001-02) and Gil de Ferran (2003). Newgarden can match that team record and also become the first driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 three consecutive times in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
And if Newgarden can pull off that feat or teammates Will Power or Scott McLaughlin take the checkered flag instead, it will be time to update this iconic picture later this year.