Dale Earnhardt Jr Uses His Platform to Shake Up the Iconic Indy500 Tradition

From being a modest organization to a full-fledged racing sport, NASCAR has come a long way since its inception. With the advent of technological advancement, stock cars have undergone huge changes. From simple engine structures to more complex and safety-regulated engines, the world of stock cars has witnessed it all. 

Despite the sport donning a new look and being technologically superior, there are certain rituals and traditions that are still part of NASCAR. They are the quintessential elements that define the real essence of racing, whether it is the military parade or the use of the lexicon, “Gentlemen, Start your Engine”.

However, it is not only the elite formats like Cup Series that enjoy this tradition but also IndyCar. And it seems that Dale Earnhardt Jr is against one such tradition that is still practiced in the Indy500.

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The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most coveted races in the field of motorsports. With a complete package of the thrill of driving in modern technology and hoary traditions, most Cup Series champions like Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch had tried their hands at it. Nevertheless, one old tradition is still prevalent in the Indy 500. It is the drinking of a bottle of milk by the victor. 

It has been an age-old tradition that had its inception back in 1933, when the motorsport legend Louis Meyer, won the Indy500 for the second time. But the tradition took its root when Meyer did it for the third time, and the American Dairy Association, Indiana, saw it as having huge marketing potential.

Since then, the tradition has been followed without fail, with an exception being during the time period of 1947, when the winner was served a bowl of water to chug. Nonetheless, it seems that water does posses a threat to this age-old tradition even in the present, as Josef Newgarden votes for Lacroix.

In a video posted by Dale Jr’s Dirty Mo Media on their Instagram as a Story, a journalist asked the IndyCar driver, “If milk wasn’t the tradition, what it would be the go-to drink in the victory lane?”

To this, Newgarden replied, “Probably Lacroix.”

The answer came as a surprise for everyone. “I don’t think anyone has said Lacroix, so that’s definitely a winner.”

While the racer asserted, “I have been drinking Lacroix all week.”

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Whether Dale Jr was being sarcastic or was vocalizing his thoughts is up to fans to decide. However, it seems that he is surely revealing his inner Indy fanboy moment.  

He had earlier revealed, talking to USA Today, how he had missed some opportunities of racing in one of the most prestigious races and was, “I was really intimidated by the idea of driving one and how different that might be from what I was used to in stock cars.”

And his dream came true. Not as an IndyCar driver, though. But as a commentator on Sunday in the Indy500. He was joined by the likes of Danica Patrick, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe and this could be the nearest he could be to the game. Having said that, he has tasted what is it like to run on the track, but virtually, in the competition organized by iRacing.

Nonetheless, the question that bugs the mind of the fans is whether the traditional ways of celebration should be done away as they make way for something new, like the spraying of champagne like in Formula 1. Well, only time will tell which holds the more priority.

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