#indyTO intern, Jordan Stewart explores his thoughts on the Indy 500 tradition

The long-standing tradition of the Indianapolis 500 is for the winner to drink a full bottle of milk once the race is completed. This weekend alone saw the underdog Takuma Sato pour that cool 2% milk all over himself after winning his first ever Indianapolis 500 championship. All have accepted the drink as the staple for the Indy 500, but few actually know why. Here is your rundown of how the milky drink from special cows became the official drink for special champions.

But Seriously, Why Milk?

The tradition dates back to 1933 when Louis Meyer had asked some employees at the race, for a glass of buttermilk (sounds good am I right?), a creamy drink that his mother had said is great for hot days, especially in Indianapolis. Although an interesting request, the bottle of milk celebration actually lasted for a couple of years. After World War 2, the milk was replaced with a large bucket of icy-cold water presented by Wilbur Shaw, then president of the Speedway. In 1956, when several milk and dairy companies began to sponsor the race, the famous bottle became the staple drink for winners at the Indy500. Did you know that the American Dairy Association of Indiana pays the driver to drink it? Who knew! I think I would take a large sip of some cold refreshing milk if I got paid around 10k to do it.

‘I Only Drink Milk on Days that end in Y’:

Surprisingly enough with all of the media appearances, fan interactions and overall preparation for race day, drivers always make sure to tell the American Dairy Association of Indiana which milk they prefer. To add on to the obscurity that is milk, there are over 30 bottles of it all custom for each individual driver competing. To get you familiar with this ‘special’ occasion, below is the preference list from this past Sunday’s race. Who knew James Hinchcliffe liked whole milk, and maybe, just maybe that 2% helped Takuma Sato win. 

Retrieved from: https://winnersdrinkmilk.com/2017/05/2017-indianapolis-500-milk-preference-poll/ 

Honda Indy: ‘Have an Udder One’

As we all watched the Indianapolis 500 from the comfort of our own homes, or some crazy bar in downtown Toronto where everyone was physically upset that Scott Dixon, and countless others, were DQ’d from the event, we thought: What if #indyTO had their own drink? That leads me to unravel that very question using some iconic, interesting partners and brands that we are all familiar with.

Tim Horton’s:

As a staple drink in Canada since 1964, Tim Horton’s is gathering traction in the United States, with around 683 stores open across many states. The ‘double-double’ craze in Canada is intense, so intense that we have a coffee cup game where you can win fabulous prizes like an HDTV, a car and a trip. A CAR FOR DRINKING COFFEE! This would be an interesting addition to the winner’s circle for the Honda Indy, if it were only a winter sport and not a summer sport. I’m not exactly sure if the racers are willing to sip a steamy hot coffee in 25+ degree weather after a sweaty race but hey, that’s just us in Canada. We already break all the rules when it comes to when/where and how often we can drink our beloved Timmy’s coffee.

 Beaver tail Fried Dough Snack:

Nothing screams ‘I won’ better than with a tasty beaver tail fried dough snack. Wait; did we just say to eat an adorable woodlands creature’s tail as a post-race snack? Well yes, but no at the same time. Beaver tails, for those who hate desserts and everything nice, are fried dough with delicious toppings and treats on them like candies, peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut spread and sugar. The idea behind this is to have customizable beaver tail fried dough snacks for the winner, complete with their number, team’s logo and even their car? Anything is possible in Canada, and we will make sure that the winner of the Honda Indy Toronto has the best tasting sugary, 1000+ calorie snack they have ever had. Only Problem: No drinking allowed, only a food, so might not come close to the Indy500 milk, but worth a shot.

Canadian Dairy Yogurt:

Okay, maybe I’m getting desperate here. There are only so many ‘non-bottle-of-milk’ options here in Canada that I’m starting to think of those Oikos commercials where the guy is imagining a Mermaid on a beautiful beach that clearly does not look like it’s off the side of Lake Ontario. So yogurt you ask? Well to start, it’s the closest to milk without actually copying and pasting this 60+ year tradition they have over there in Indianapolis, so we have a shot here. Secondly, it’s a liquid-type food, so no chewing needed at the winner’s circle (safety first, we don’t need a choking incident here in Toronto). Canadian dairy industry is also incredibly strong, reaching strong sales and no decline in sight; this can be the start of a beautiful relationship between race fans and yogurt. Who knows, maybe someday this can happen, or maybe not.

Poutine:

When you think of Canadian stereotypes like Igloos, Geese, Moose and the word ‘sorry’, Poutine comes to mind. Like seriously, who eats fries smothered in hot gravy and cheese curds? WE DO that’s who! Poutine is a great snack/meal for all ages, whether you are eating out with friends, having a cheat day, or a club goer at 3am and in need of some food to accompany you on a long night. The idea is to have the winners chow down on some delicious Poutine with an adorable bib that reads ‘”I’m a winner!” Imagine Will Power, James Hinchcliffe or any of the Honda Indy’s soon-to-be winners’s chowing down, messy face and all, on a Poutine with a trophy proudly displayed next to them. This can work, but only if they are willing to get down and dirty after hours of racing.

Coca Cola:

Ahhhh, nothing tastes better on a hot day than a Coca Cola beverage. Did I forget to mention that Coca Cola is an official sponsor of the Honda Indy? Maybe this Indy500 milk ‘Canada-style’ might not be a fantasy after all. The idea behind this campaign is to get drivers to drink Coke products from their respectful countries. Scott Dixon wins? Just chuck him that special New Zealand Coke and let him chug that can away at the winner’s circle. Coca Cola has over 100 unique drinks from all over the world so if the sponsors are willing to unlock the secret compartment containing all of the flavors at their famous Atlanta, Georgia factory and museum, then we might have something here.

Overall, we have some interesting contenders that can fight over both our stomachs, and the coveted, imaginary trophy of being the official drink of the Honda Indy. I would love to hear from you! If you could bring the famous Indianapolis drink to Toronto, what would it be?