In 1933, after his second Indianapolis 500 win, three-time Indy 500 winner Louis Meyer requested a bottle of cold buttermilk upon finishing the race. In 1936, as Meyer won a second Indy 500, he, once again, requested buttermilk. Thus, the monumental milk tradition began.
All these years later, Indianapolis 500 drivers still quench their 500-mile thirst with an ice cold bottle of milk hand-delivered by an Indiana dairy farmer.
For the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500, the winning driver will receive a bottle of milk from this year’s milk man, Indiana dairy farmer Joe Kelsay of Whiteland, Indiana.
The chief mechanic and team owner will receive their own commemorative bottles from rookie milk man, Indiana dairy farmer Kim Minich of La Porte, Indiana.
Every year, we ask the qualified thirty-three drivers to select between whole milk, 2% milk or fat-free milk. This year, whole milk is the drink of choice by eighteen Indy Car drivers followed up with 2% requested by twelve drivers.
Please share in the milk tradition and join the winning driver on Sunday afternoon by exclaiming, “Winners Drink Milk!” as you take your own drink of the always delicious, ice cold milk!
Here are this year’s Indy 500 Milk Preferences from the thirty-three Indy Car drivers:
