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The ONLY race where milk is drunk afterwards is the Indianapolis 500. It is a tradition that started with the first 500. If you watch European Formula racing, you will see them take a sip or two of champagne, NASCAR drivers do Soft Drinks, Gatorade, water, or even beer. According to the IRL, the milk tradition at the Indy 500 was started in 1936 when the winner, who drank buttermilk on hot days, was photographed drinking buttermilk in Victory Lane. The head of the local dairy saw the picture and talked the track into continuing it. It's a nice tradition.

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15y ago
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15y ago

The victory milk is just one of may long standing traditions associated with the Indianapolis 500.

Milk became the official drink of the Indy 500 after Louis Meyer, the winner of the 1936 Indy, was photographed gulping down a bottle of buttermilk, his favorite drink. Apparently, his mom had recommended the drink, claiming it would refresh him. The photo found its way to the desk of an executive at the Milk Foundation who, seeing a rare promo opportunity, "made sure that from that year on the winner of the race received a bottle of milk to drink." A tradition was born. Not surprisingly, the National Dairy Council supports this ritual, calling the celebratory chugging of the milk, "a winning example for people everywhere who are looking to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle."

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15y ago

I believe that custom was started for the Indy 500.

Q. Why does the winner of the Indianapolis 500 drink milk in Victory Lane?

A. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Louis Meyer regularly drank buttermilk to refresh himself on a hot day and happened to drink some in Victory Lane as a matter of habit after winning the 1936 race. An executive with what was then the Milk Foundation was so elated when he saw the moment captured in a photograph in the sports section of his newspaper the following morning that he vowed to make sure it would be repeated in coming years. There was a period between 1947-55 when milk was apparently no longer offered, but the practice was revived in 1956 and has been a tradition ever since. * http://www.nascar-betting-odds-online.com/

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13y ago

They don't, it's only a tradition at the Indy 500, Nascar drivers kiss the bricks at Indianapolis.

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13y ago

When you run the risk of hitting a cement wall , God knows you want strong bones. Plus I suspect they get paid for the endorsements.

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14y ago

Because it does a body good.

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Q: Why do they drink milk in the winners circle at the Indy 500?
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