Indy 500 winner drinking from milk bottle during celebration tradition explained

Indy 500 winner drinking from milk bottle during celebration tradition explained

Explained why does the winner of the Indy 500 drink milk, a look at the Indy 500 milk tradition 

Every sport has its own unique traditions. Hockey players grow beards during the playoffs, baseball players don’t condemn a pitcher when he’s perfect, and Indy 500 winners drink milk in the Winner’s Circle.

The Indy 500 has numerous traditions, but only one driver gets to participate in the ritual of getting an entire bottle of iced milk thrown in their face.

Indy 500 winner drinking from milk bottle during celebration tradition meaning explained

Since 1956, the practise has topped off every race, but its origins actually go further back and deeper. The images are legendary, but this year, someone else will get to make the crucial decision: whole, 2 percent, or skim?

Why does the Indianapolis 500 winner drink milk?

Like any great story, this one has escalation in it. The cherished tradition of sipping milk was established by Louis Meyer in 1933, following his second Indianapolis 500 triumph. He sipped from a glass of milk while explaining that his mother had told him that a glass of buttermilk was the best thing to drink on a hot day.

Advertisement

Meyer had no concern for protocol after his third victory in 1936. He may have disgusted rather than amazed those around him by drinking milk straight from the bottle. Meyer drinking the milk was captured on camera, and a new tradition was formed.

But it took until 1956 for the practise to fully take off. Although there was a hiatus between 1946 and 1955, drivers still carry it out every year. Today, the choice of whole, 2 percent, or skim milk is presented to each driver before to the race.

Why did Emmerson Fittipaldi drink orange juice?

One driver, to use George Bluth Sr.’s phrase, decided to play it cool with the tradition, which might have resulted in a small amount of treason.

Emmerson Fittipaldi, owner of an orange grove, sipped orange juice in the winner’s circle in 1993 before immediately drinking the traditional milk. Not without cause, yet that combination is offensive.

Advertisement

Fittipaldi was booed for his wrongdoing, but he won the race. Last year, he was honoured by the Indiana American Dairy Association. Nobody should ever suggest that our Big Milk overlords aren’t amusing.

Can drivers drink buttermilk?

Do drivers want to consume buttermilk in this situation? The process for making buttermilk has changed over time. As a result of being mass-produced, it now has an unappealing sour taste.

Before consuming buttermilk, drivers will need to demonstrate their mettle, according to the Indy Star.

What milk did drivers select for 2023?

Drivers’ choices have been made for 2023. If a driver wins the race on Sunday, they will all be drinking the following beverages in the winner’s circle.

Advertisement
DriverMilk
Josef NewgardenWhole
Scott McLaughlinWhole
Pato O’WardWhole
Helio Castroneves2%
Felix RosenqvistWhole
Alexander RossiWhole
Marcus EricssonWhole
Scott DixonWhole
Alex PalouWhole
Takuma Sato2%
Will PowerWhole
Santino FerrucciWhole
David MalukasWhole
Conor DalyWhole
Rinus VeeKayWhole
Ryan Hunter-ReayWhole
Stefan WilsonWhole
Colton HertaWhole
Kyle KirkwoodWhole
Romain GrosjeanSkim
Devlin DeFrancescoWhole
Jack HarveyWhole
Ed CarpenterWhole
Katherine LeggeSkim
Christian LundgaardWhole
RC EnersonWhole
Sting Ray RobbWhole
Benjamin Pedersen2%
Simon PagenaudWhole
Tony KanaanWhole
Callum IlottWhole
Agustin CanapinoWhole
Marco AndrettiWhole

Indy 500 winners since 2010

YearWinning Driver
2022Marcus Ericsson
2021Helio Castroneves
2020Takuma Sato
2019Simon Pagenaud
2018Will Power
2017Takuma Sato
2016Alexander Rossi
2015Juan Pablo Montoya
2014Ryan Hunter-Reay
2013Tony Kanaan
2012Dario Franchitti
2011Dan Wheldon
2010Dario Franchitti

PLAY: FREE ONLINE GAMES