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Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis 500 traditions start before the race and continue after
The Indianapolis 500 has many long-standing traditions that fans and drivers love about the month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here are some of the most-beloved Indy 500 traditions, some of what sets this apart from most sporting events. Alice Greene, a copywriter for WIBC radio, is credited with coining the phrase "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in 1954. On the air, legendary Indy 500 voice Sid Collins made it famous. Louis Meyer, parched after becoming the first three-time Indy 500 winner in 1936, asked for buttermilk in Victory Lane. He had just driven for 4 1/2 hours in the heat. And his mother had told him years earlier that milk was good to drink on hot days, so that's what he requested. A dairy industry executive saw a photo of Meyer drinking the milk and decided to offer it to winners thereafter. The Indiana Dairy Association became an official sponsor in the 1950s, and these days every driver is asked what kind of milk they prefer — whole, 2% or skim — just in case they get the opportunity to celebrate with it. Why do they drink milk?: Why does the Indy 500 winner drink milk? 2025 driver choices (A note: Buttermilk and chocolate milk are not options. And most of the milk is going to be poured on the winner's head anyway, so the flavor isn't that big of a deal.) (Another note: Emerson Fittipaldi made what was considered a faux pas in 1993 when he sipped milk, then pulled out some orange juice to drink. He was promoting his orchard business in Brazil, but fans weren't pleased.) Jim Rathmann received a wreath after winning the 1960 Indy 500, and the winner has donned one every year since. The wreath is made of 33 ivory colored Cymbidium orchids with burgundy tips and 33 miniature flags. Paving bricks — 3.2 million of them — once covered the entire 2.5-mile oval, but over time different sections of the racing surface have been paved. Since 1961, a 3-foot wide section at the start/finish line still has bricks. Hence, the terms "Yard of Bricks" and "Brickyard." The Indy 500 borrowed this tradition from NASCAR's Brickyard 400. Dale Jarrett kissed the bricks after his 1996 victory, and Gil de Ferran picked it up for the 2003 Indy 500. Now, everyone who wins at the facility — car racers, air racers, golfers — make sure they kiss the bricks. Helio Castroneves couldn't contain himself after winning the 2001 Indy 500 as a rookie. As he had done at some other races, he rushed to the outside fence and climbed it to celebrate with fans. Many race winners have followed suit. Two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden has found an opening in the fence near the start-finish line, and he has wriggled through it to join fans after his wins 2023 and '24. He's trying to become the first driver to win three straight Indy 500s. The trophy, which debuted after the 1936 race, includes the image of every race winner. The trophy cost $10,000 to produce but is insured for well over $1 million. The trophy had room for 70 images, and since the race is more than a century old, a larger base allows for winners through 2033. It stands about 5-foot-4 and 153 pounds. Starting in 1988, the Speedway started handing out "Baby Borgs," 18-inch versions of the trophy, to winning drivers. Team owners also received Baby Borgs starting in 1997. The song has been part of the pre-race festivities since the 1940s, and many stars of their era have had the honor. Jim Nabors' version is the most revered. He sang it most years from 1972-2014. Jim Cornelison now handles the song. For years, thousands of red, while and blue balloons were released in the moments leading up to the race. According to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tony Hulman's mother, Grace Smith Hulman, first suggested the balloon release. Since 1950, the release coincided with the final notes of "(Back Home Again In) Indiana." The last time balloons were released was in 2019. From 2022: IMS pauses balloon release at Indy 500, partially due to environmental concerns The command to start the engines is believed to have started in 1946, the first race after a long race hiatus for World War II. In 1977, the command became "In company with the first lady ever to qualify at Indianapolis, gentlemen, start your engines," to accommodate Janet Guthrie's history-making debut. Now, the command is, "Drivers, start your engines," or "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines." After a COVID-19 pandemic break, the parade that usually attracts more than 100,000 to downtown Indianapolis returns. Drivers, bands, celebrities and grand marshal Scot Pollard greet those lining the streets. Retro Indy: See photos of the 500 Festival parade through the years Since 2002, a Chevrolet has paced the field to the green flag. In 2025, it will be a 2025 Chevrolet Corvett ZR1, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan driving.
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
Holy cow! Pato O'Ward finally milks a cow before Indy 500, hoping to break his streak of heartbreak
INDIANAPOLIS -- Pato O'Ward learned this week that it behooves Indianapolis 500 drivers to take part in the rookie tradition of milking a cow if they ever want to drink the stuff in victory lane upon winning 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' Problem is that O'Ward never got that opportunity — until Friday. One day after lamenting that his Indy 500 debut occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Dairy Association and his Arrow McLaren team came through for him. The folks at Silverstone Farms in nearby Greenfield, Indiana, loaded up a cow named Rihanna and trucked her to the track on Friday, where she was waiting for O'Ward at the crack of dawn. O'Ward, one of the most charismatic and popular drivers in the paddock, was udderly amazed. 'Woke up for some morning milking, and it was a really cool experience,' he said, flashing a big smile. 'Very warm. You know, gotta warm her up. Yeah, she was fabulous. Did you see a video at least? You'll see. First try.' Yep, first tug and there came the stream of milk. Perhaps that's a good omen as O'Ward chases his first Indy 500 win. He has finished second twice in the most important race of the season, and has talked candidly about how Indianapolis Motor Speedway has repeatedly broken his heart. Maybe the fact that he hadn't milked the cow was the karma keeping him from victory lane. The high-steaks effort to get a cow to the speedway before Sunday's race came after O'Ward sat for a press conference Thursday with Robert Shwartzman, who earned the pole as an Indy 500 rookie. Shwarzman dutifully took part in the traditional milking earlier in the week, and as he explained: "The woman, she came to me and said, 'The people who didn't milk the cow, they never won the Indy 500,' and they were like (did not finish). It's bad luck.' Shwartzman pointed out that Alexander Rossi milked the cow when he won as a rookie in 2016. 'You have to milk the cow,' Shwartzman said, describing his personal experience with a 'very calm, cute' cow named Indy. To which O'Ward declared: 'I'm going find a cow, and I'm going to milk it tonight." the Indiana Dairy Association responded on X. It only took them a day.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Holy cow! Pato O'Ward finally milks a cow before Indy 500, hoping to break his streak of heartbreak
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pato O'Ward learned this week that it behooves Indianapolis 500 drivers to take part in the rookie tradition of milking a cow if they ever want to drink the stuff in victory lane upon winning 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' Problem is that O'Ward never got that opportunity — until Friday. One day after lamenting that his Indy 500 debut occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Dairy Association and his Arrow McLaren team came through for him. The folks at Silverstone Farms in nearby Greenfield, Indiana, loaded up a cow named Rihanna and trucked her to the track on Friday, where she was waiting for O'Ward at the crack of dawn. O'Ward, one of the most charismatic and popular drivers in the paddock, was udderly amazed. 'Woke up for some morning milking, and it was a really cool experience,' he said, flashing a big smile. 'Very warm. You know, gotta warm her up. Yeah, she was fabulous. Did you see a video at least? You'll see. First try.' Yep, first tug and there came the stream of milk. Perhaps that's a good omen as O'Ward chases his first Indy 500 win. He has finished second twice in the most important race of the season, and has talked candidly about how Indianapolis Motor Speedway has repeatedly broken his heart. Maybe the fact that he hadn't milked the cow was the karma keeping him from victory lane. The high-steaks effort to get a cow to the speedway before Sunday's race came after O'Ward sat for a press conference Thursday with Robert Shwartzman, who earned the pole as an Indy 500 rookie. Shwarzman dutifully took part in the traditional milking earlier in the week, and as he explained: "The woman, she came to me and said, 'The people who didn't milk the cow, they never won the Indy 500,' and they were like (did not finish). It's bad luck.' Shwartzman pointed out that Alexander Rossi milked the cow when he won as a rookie in 2016. 'You have to milk the cow,' Shwartzman said, describing his personal experience with a 'very calm, cute' cow named Indy. It only took them a day. ___
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Holy cow! Pato O'Ward finally milks a cow before Indy 500, hoping to break his streak of heartbreak
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pato O'Ward learned this week that it behooves Indianapolis 500 drivers to take part in the rookie tradition of milking a cow if they ever want to drink the stuff in victory lane upon winning 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' Problem is that O'Ward never got that opportunity — until Friday. One day after lamenting that his Indy 500 debut occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Dairy Association and his Arrow McLaren team came through for him. The folks at Silverstone Farms in nearby Greenfield, Indiana, loaded up a cow named Rihanna and trucked her to the track on Friday, where she was waiting for O'Ward at the crack of dawn. O'Ward, one of the most charismatic and popular drivers in the paddock, was udderly amazed. 'Woke up for some morning milking, and it was a really cool experience,' he said, flashing a big smile. 'Very warm. You know, gotta warm her up. Yeah, she was fabulous. Did you see a video at least? You'll see. First try.' Yep, first tug and there came the stream of milk. Perhaps that's a good omen as O'Ward chases his first Indy 500 win. He has finished second twice in the most important race of the season, and has talked candidly about how Indianapolis Motor Speedway has repeatedly broken his heart. Maybe the fact that he hadn't milked the cow was the karma keeping him from victory lane. The high-steaks effort to get a cow to the speedway before Sunday's race came after O'Ward sat for a press conference Thursday with Robert Shwartzman, who earned the pole as an Indy 500 rookie . Shwarzman dutifully took part in the traditional milking earlier in the week, and as he explained: 'The woman, she came to me and said, 'The people who didn't milk the cow, they never won the Indy 500,' and they were like (did not finish). It's bad luck.' Shwartzman pointed out that Alexander Rossi milked the cow when he won as a rookie in 2016. 'You have to milk the cow,' Shwartzman said, describing his personal experience with a 'very calm, cute' cow named Indy. To which O'Ward declared: 'I'm going find a cow, and I'm going to milk it tonight.' 'We know some farmers who know some cows who can make that happen,' the Indiana Dairy Association responded on X. It only took them a day. ___ AP auto racing:
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Pato O'Ward finally milks a cow, hoping to break his streak of Indianapolis 500 heartbreaks
INDIANAPOLIS — Pato O'Ward learned this week that it behooves Indianapolis 500 drivers to take part in the rookie tradition of milking a cow if they ever want to drink the stuff in victory lane upon winning 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' Problem is that O'Ward never got that opportunity — until Friday. One day after lamenting that his Indy 500 debut occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Dairy Association and his Arrow McLaren team came through for him. The folks at Silverstone Farms in nearby Greenfield, Indiana, loaded up a cow named Rihanna and trucked her to the track on Friday, where she was waiting for O'Ward at the crack of dawn. O'Ward, one of the most charismatic and popular drivers in the paddock, was udderly amazed. 'Woke up for some morning milking, and it was a really cool experience,' he said, flashing a big smile. 'Very warm. You know, gotta warm her up. Yeah, she was fabulous. Did you see a video at least? You'll see. First try.' Yep, first tug and there came the stream of milk. Perhaps that's a good omen as O'Ward chases his first Indy 500 win. He has finished second twice in the most important race of the season, and has talked candidly about how Indianapolis Motor Speedway has repeatedly broken his heart. Maybe the fact that he hadn't milked the cow was the karma keeping him from victory lane. The high-steaks effort to get a cow to the speedway before Sunday's race came after O'Ward sat for a press conference Thursday with Robert Shwartzman, who earned the pole as an Indy 500 rookie. Shwarzman dutifully took part in the traditional milking earlier in the week, and as he explained: 'The woman, she came to me and said, 'The people who didn't milk the cow, they never won the Indy 500,' and they were like (did not finish). It's bad luck.' Shwartzman pointed out that Alexander Rossi milked the cow when he won as a rookie in 2016. 'You have to milk the cow,' Shwartzman said, describing his personal experience with a 'very calm, cute' cow named Indy. To which O'Ward declared: 'I'm going find a cow, and I'm going to milk it tonight.' 'We know some farmers who know some cows who can make that happen,' the Indiana Dairy Association responded on X. It only took them a day.
