Indianapolis, Indiana – Indianapolis 500 fans can now celebrate the legendary race in a unique and delicious way, thanks to a new collaboration between Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), the American Dairy Association Indiana, and Prairie Farms Dairy. Special-edition Indy 500-branded milk pints and cartons are hitting store shelves across the Midwest, giving fans a taste of the tradition that has long been a symbol of victory at the Brickyard.
More than 13,000 retailers throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin will carry the commemorative 16-ounce milk pints. Each pint features one of five past Indy 500 winners, allowing fans to collect all five designs while enjoying their favorite dairy beverage.
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The pints are available in various milk types, each honoring a different champion:
• 2% reduced-fat milk celebrates back-to-back winner and defending champion Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024).
• Whole vitamin D milk highlights two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato (2017, 2020).
• Premium chocolate milk showcases 2018 Indy 500 champion Will Power.
• 1% lowfat chocolate milk pays tribute to four-time winner Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021).
• Premium strawberry milk features 2022 champion Marcus Ericsson.
Fans will be able to find these collectible pints in stores for the next six weeks, offering a limited-time opportunity to join in the celebration of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Beyond the pints, approximately 80 million half-pint cartons featuring a special “Winners Drink Milk” graphic will be distributed to schools across the same eight states. This initiative not only brings the racing tradition into classrooms but also highlights the important role dairy farmers play in fueling champions on and off the track.
“At IMS, we know winners drink milk,” said INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles. “These milk pints and cartons are another way our fans can be part of the Race Day excitement and celebrate like an Indy 500 champion.”
The tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1936, when three-time winner Louis Meyer famously requested a bottle of buttermilk after his victory. The moment caught the attention of a dairy industry executive, who saw an opportunity to solidify milk as the official drink of Indy 500 champions. Since then, the tradition has become one of the most iconic celebrations in sports.
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“Drinking the coveted bottle of ice-cold milk on Victory Podium isn’t just a celebration – it’s a tribute to dairy farmers and more than a century of racing history,” said American Dairy Association Indiana CEO Jenni Browning. “At the Indy 500, milk is the ultimate symbol of hard work, endurance, and victory. With these special-edition pints and cartons, fans can drink milk and celebrate the winning drivers and dairy farmers everywhere.”
Although buttermilk is no longer an option, today’s drivers still embrace the tradition by selecting their preferred milk type before the race. The American Dairy Association Indiana gathers preferences from all 33 drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500, offering them a choice of whole milk, 2% reduced-fat milk, or skim milk. While whole milk remains the most popular selection, some drivers choose to honor Meyer’s legacy by requesting buttermilk in spirit.
As the excitement builds for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25, fans can secure their tickets at IMS.com or by contacting the IMS Ticket Office. In the meantime, they can bring the race home with them by raising a commemorative pint and toasting to the champions of Indy’s most famous tradition.
