Why Montoya's Indy 500 milk choice has raised eyebrows

What connects a former F1 race winner, a farm animal and an item of confectionary?

If you answered the prize for winning the Indianapolis 500, give yourself a pat on the back!

Juan Pablo Montoya, who will drive for Arrow McLaren SP, has gone outside the box with chocolate milk as his beverage of choice should he win the race for the third time.

All 33 drivers involved in the American leg of motorsport's triple crown, which also includes the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, have had to submit their preferences for the type of milk they would like to drink should they win.

The tradition dates back to when Louis Meyer drank a glass of buttermilk after winning the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1933 before upgrading to the traditional glass bottle in 1936.

F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi took change one step further when drinking orange juice. Buttermilk is no longer a choice but that has not stopped Ed Carpenter and Simona de Silvestro from opting for it.

Chocolate milk nor buttermilk are, however, official options. Only whole, two per cent or skimmed milk fall into that category.

Six-time IndyCar champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon starts on pole with the race taking place on Sunday as Takuma Sato aims to defend his crown.

No Skim Milk at the 2021 #Indy500.

21 drivers select Whole.
12 drivers select Two Percent.

2 write in Buttermilk.
1 for Chocolate.

NOTE: Whole, Two Percent or Skim are the official options.#WinnersDrinkMilk // @IMS pic.twitter.com/52Tnembl29

— Indiana Dairy Assoc. (@INDairy) May 23, 2021

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