History of Milk at the Indianapolis 500

This year, the winner of the 109th Indianapolis 500 will be greeted in the victory circle with ice-cold milk at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Curious about the reasoning behind this unique tradition? Let’s dig into its origins.

The tradition dates back to 1936 when Louis Meyer, after securing his third Indy 500 victory, was photographed holding a bottle of buttermilk. It’s interesting; he didn’t set out to create a custom but rather found himself in that moment spontaneously.

On that hot day, Meyer recalled thinking, “All I wanted was cold buttermilk.” Growing up in Yonkers, New York, he’d been told it was refreshing on warm days, and after the grueling race, he craved that comforting taste of home. That simple drink turned into a memorable moment captured by a photographer, leading dairy industry leaders to advocate for the winner’s ritual of receiving milk.

Interestingly, from 1938 to 1941, and following the race’s pause during World War II, winners enjoyed milk, but there were times when that wasn’t the case. For a period, under the presidency of Wilbur Shaw, who won in 1937, 1939, and 1940, the tradition shifted. So, for a time, winners received just plain water after their victories, a drastic change that didn’t last long. After Shaw’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1954, milk made a comeback in 1956.

Currently, it’s common for race winners to have milk in the victory circle, and over the years, 69 consecutive winners have been part of this delightful moment. This year’s race, expected to draw 350,000 fans, will be aired on Fox on May 25th, with coverage starting at 10 AM.

If you’re curious about this year’s event, you can catch it on Fox or stream it live online. It’s that time of year again when the excitement builds not just around the race, but around the unique traditions that make the Indy 500 so special.