Indy-500 winner chooses whole milk, proclaims it’s best

He spills none; saves every drop for drinking, alongside wife, child, and team

A race car driver in a yellow racing suit and red cap offers a bottle of milk to his wife, who leans forward to take a sip, while holding their young child in her arms. They are surrounded by a floral wreath and a celebratory atmosphere after the Indianapolis 500. — Alex Palou chose to savor the drink of milk instead of pouring it on himself as many excited drivers have in the past. He had also requested milk for his daughter Lucia, and she was presented a mini bottle along with Palou making sure his wife Esther Valle got a sip. *IMS Photo*

By SHERRY BUNTING / Special for Farmshine

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – There were some firsts in the 109th running of the Indianapolis-500 on May 25th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). First-time winner Alex Palou, with Chip Ganassi Racing, was the first driver from Spain to accomplish this.

Milk took center stage; whole milk that is.

After the handoff in Victory Circle – by Indiana dairy farmer Abbie Herr of Herr Dairy, Kendallville, alongside rookie Ashley Stockwell of Stockwell Farms, Hudson – Palou reached again for the first-ever ‘mini bottle’ that he personally handed off to his wife for their young daughter. (Three drivers had requested milk bottles for their children this year, according to American Dairy Association Indiana, ADAI).

Then, the milk-drinking commenced!

After his first few hearty swigs, Palou reached over to give his wife a sip from his bottle. Then more for him. Then he and Chip Ganassi passed the bottle back and forth, all smiles with a short chat before the deluge of interviews and traditions continued.

Then, it was back to drinking more milk.

At no point did Palou pour the milk on himself. After the race, he told the Indianapolis Star that the milk was delicious and that die-hard fans, and some of his team members, told him not to pour it out. This hard-earned milk was to be savored – every drop – for drinking.

In fact, during the Fox Sports interview in Victory Circle, Palou said: “That milk tasted pretty good – the best I ever had – and I think I need to have some more of it.”

And so, he did.

The race started 45 minutes late after the track dried from showers passing through. It was a chilly day for the first sell-out crowd of 350,000 spectators since the 100th running in 2016, not to mention the masses gathered outside and the estimated 8.4 million people watching worldwide on Fox.

A smiling woman holding a glass bottle of milk with the label 'Winners Drink Milk' and 'American Dairy Association Indiana.' — Abbie Herr of Herr Dairy Farm, Kendallville, Indiana was the milk presenter for the 109th Indy-500. *ADAI photo*

The pre-race traditions honored all branches of U.S. armed forces, including the playing of Taps to a deafening silence in remembrance of fallen heroes, followed by a Blue Angels fly-over, singing of God Bless America, the National Anthem, and Back Home in Indiana.

This year, Army Black Hawk helicopters flew just above the field of 33 cars during the introductory pace lap to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday.

Palou was identified early as one to watch. The Indy-car points leader had not yet won the Indy-500 nor any other oval-track race.

The odds-on favorites, however, were among the first-row qualifiers.

Another story of the day was milk-promoter extraordinaire, Josef Newgarden, a native Tennessean, who had won the 107th and 108th races but had a disappointing qualifier for the 109th. This put him in the last row, starting 32nd of 33.

Newgarden ran a methodical race, among the many accidents and issues on the cold track. He moved to 9th place before an issue with his car on his final pit stop ended his hopes to be the first driver to win three in a row.

As it happened, Palou ran a methodical race also, working his way from starting 6th, to pass previous Indy-500 winner Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go.

Both incredulous and humble, Palou made his way through the cherished Indy-500 traditions – chief among them the famed drink of milk, which was initiated in 1936 by three-time winner Louis Meyer, when he asked for buttermilk to quench his thirst after his second win. (Back then, buttermilk was super rich, almost a half-and-half.)

The milk choices of drivers have changed over the years. But one thing is for sure: They choose 100% real milk. This year, 28 of 33 drivers chose whole milk and five selected 2%.

Respect for the milk has increased, thanks to ADAI and the drivers themselves.

ADAI has kept up the tradition of having an actual Indiana dairy farmer present the milk. In fact, the ‘veteran’ and ‘rookie’ presenters are chosen annually and kept busy all year with milk promotion and education opportunities at local, state, and national levels, with global reach.

After all, the farmers milk the cows. The cows make the milk. The milk brings the mojo. Milk is what every driver wants to be drinking after 200 laps on a 2.5 mile oval at the IMS on Memorial Day weekend.

“Being out there and handing that milk to the winner, this is such a surreal moment already,” Herr told Brownfield Ag News. “This is a pinnacle for an Indiana dairy farmer, so I’ll probably ride that high for quite a while.”

(Learn more at winnersdrinkmilk.com).