7 Things To Know About The Indy 500 Milk Tradition

For nearly three grueling hours, drivers competing in the Indianapolis 500 endure sitting in a tiny cockpit with temperatures climbing up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. They're racing at speeds topping 230 mph. Yet, when the checkered flag drops at "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the winner doesn’t celebrate by spraying a baseline vintage of French champagne like a competitor might do in Formula 1. Instead, they climb out of their car, covered in sweat and grime and eagerly grab an ice-cold glass bottle of American dairy milk. It is arguably the most recognizable — and perhaps, most curious — tradition in motorsports. Learn more about how a simple post-race craving evolved into a decades-long tradition, backed by hundreds of local farmers and a lot of spilled dairy.

7 Things To Know About The Indy 500 Milk Tradition. For nearly three grueling hours, drivers competing in the Indianapolis 500 endure sitting in a tiny cockpit with temperatures climbing up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. They're racing at speeds topping 230 mph. Yet, when the checkered flag drops at "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the winner doesn’t celebrate by spraying a baseline vintage of French champagne like a competitor might do in Formula 1. Instead, they climb out of their car, covered in sweat and grime and eagerly grab an ice-cold glass bottle of American dairy milk. It is arguably the most recognizable — and perhaps, most curious — tradition in motorsports. Learn more about how a simple post-race craving evolved into a decades-long tradition, backed by hundreds of local farmers and a lot of spilled dairy. 1. It Started By Acci...