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2023 Indianapolis 500 drivers preferences for the milk they’ll drink with the trophy

We discuss the all important milk choice for the winner of the 2023 Indy 500.

By Teddy Ricketson Updated
Takuma Sato, driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda, celebrates by pouring the traditional glass bottle of milk over his head following his victory of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2017, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Khris Hale/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Update: Josef Newgarden has won the 2023 Indy 500. After celebrating in the stands with the fans, he will return to victory lane, where he will be drinking whole milk.

The 2023 Indianapolis 500 will be held on Sunday, May 28 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It will be the 108th running of this event which is filled with history and tradition. One of the more unique traditions in sports is that the winner of the Indianapolis 500 celebrates with their choice of milk.

This action dates back all the way to 1936 when winner Louis Meyer chose to drink milk after winning because his mother thought it was hot out and it would cool him down. It took 20 years, but milk has now been part of the winner’s celebrations since 1956. 33 drivers will be part of the race field, and each must fill out a survey from race organizers declaring their milk of choice.

While you may think the drivers get creative freedom over their milk choices, but they only have three options. Competitors can pick between whole milk, 2% or skim milk, with the other option simply being “no preference.” The Indiana Dairy Association conducted the survey, and 28 drivers opted for whole milk. Three went for 2%, with two going for skim despite some drivers saying they would go with chocolate provided it was an option. Meyer initially drank buttermilk and a few drivers suggested they’d honor the tradition by choosing that if they could, but alas it isn’t an option.

Poll results can be found below.

Whole Milk

  • Marco Andretti
  • Agostin Canapino
  • Ed Carpenter
  • Conor Daly
  • Devlin DeFrancesco
  • Scott Dixon
  • R.C. Enerson
  • Marcus Ericsson
  • Santino Ferrucci
  • Jack Harvey
  • Colton Herta
  • Ryan Hunter-Reay
  • Callum Illott
  • Tony Kanaan
  • Kyle Kirkwood
  • Christian Lundgaard
  • David Malukas
  • Scott McLaughlin
  • Josef Newgarden
  • Pato O’Ward
  • Simon Pagenaud
  • Alex Palou
  • Will Power
  • Sting Ray Robb
  • Felix Rosenqvist
  • Alexander Rossi
  • Rinus VeeKay
  • Stefan Wilson* (replaced due to injury by Graham Rahl who has no preference on milk type)

2% milk

  • Helio Castroneves
  • Benjamin Pedersen
  • Takuma Sato

Skim milk

  • Romain Grosjean
  • Katherine Legge

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