The Indianapolis 500’s milk-drinking celebration is one of motorsport’s most distinctive traditions.

The ritual began in 1936 when Louis Meyer, the race’s winner, drank buttermilk after his victory. A farm boy by upbringing, Meyer drank buttermilk to rehydrate, a personal habit that caught the eye of a local dairy executive. 

Recognizing an opportunity to promote Indiana’s thriving dairy industry, the executive helped spark a tradition that tied the race to the state’s agricultural identity.

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By the 1950s, the American Dairy Association of Indiana formalized the practice, ensuring winners received a bottle of milk in victory lane. Indiana, known as the “Crossroads of America,” leveraged its dairy heritage to make milk a symbol of the Indy 500’s connection to the state. Originally whole milk, winners now choose between whole, 2 percent or skim to suit modern tastes, with the milk sourced from local dairies.

The milk ceremony, now over 80 years old, remains a beloved link to the Indy 500’s history, blending triumph with Indiana’s rural roots in a uniquely refreshing way. That said, here are the milk choices for every driver at the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Starting Lineup And Milk Choices For 2025 Indy 500 Drivers