The longstanding tradition of drinking milk in the victory circle at the Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1936 and originated with a spur of the moment reaction. After winning his third Indy 500, driver Louis Meyer was photographed sipping buttermilk while seated on his race car. On that hot day, Meyer reached for the beverage because of childhood advice that he received from his mother. She told him that buttermilk would help cool him down, and he did just that by taking a big swig. The candid moment was captured on camera, and it resonated with viewers from all over the country when a dairy industry executive saw the image and proposed that milk be presented to all future winners of the Indy 500.

Although Meyer’s milk-drinking wasn’t initially meant to start a tradition, it became the winning celebration standard. Winners from 1938 to 1941 and then again from 1946, after a wartime hiatus, were all offered milk after their victories. However, this tradition was put on pause between 1947 and 1954 under the leadership of Wilbur Shaw, a three-time Indy 500 winner who became president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During his reign, race winners were given cold water in a silver chalice instead of milk. However, this new “tradition” ended following Shaw’s death in a 1954 plane crash. By 1956, milk made its return as the winning beverage and has since remained a staple in the victory celebration.

With efforts to uphold the tradition, winners were even offered a $400 bonus to drink the milk. Since then, 69 consecutive winners — 76 in total — have participated in the milk drinking ritual, making it one of the most popular post-race moments in sports. This symbolic gesture not only honors a unique piece of racing history but also serves as a hats-off gesture to the dairy industry.

Each year, special preparations are made for the milk drinking, including presigned milk bottles by the drivers participating in the event. The 109th Indianapolis 500, drawing 350,000 spectators — and millions who watched from around the world — continues this cherished custom; as occurred in 2024 with Josef Newgarden enjoying his bottle of milk after winning the 108th running of the race. Because of this, milk remains more than just a drink, it’s a symbol of victory!

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