After two seasons of heartbreak and injury, Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward, who pondered retirement, said he opted to return because he's in a better headspace.

For nearly three grueling hours, drivers competing in the Indianapolis 500 endure sitting in a tiny cockpit with temperatures climbing up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. They're racing at speeds topping 230 mph. Yet, when the checkered flag drops at "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the winner doesnt celebrate by spraying a baseline vintage of French champagne like a competitor might do in Formula 1. Instead, they climb out of their car, covered in sweat and grime and eagerly grab an ice-cold glass bottle of American dairy milk. It is arguably the most recognizable and perhaps, most curious tradition in motorsports. Learn more about how a simple post-race craving evolved into a decades-long tradition, backed by hundreds of local farmers and a lot of spilled dairy. 1. It Started By Accident With A Thirsty, Three-Time Champion The legendary tradition was sparked by driver Louis Meyer after his third Indy 500 win in 1936. Exhausted and thirsty after driving 500 miles, Meyer asked for a cold bottle of buttermilk a refreshing drink his mother appreciated. A local dairy executive spotted a photo of Meyer chugging the beverage in the next day's newspaper, recognized a golden marketing opportunity and vowed to make milk a permanent fixture. 2. World War II And "Water from Wilbur" Forces Temporary Hiatus While milk was handed out sporadically after Meyer's 1936 victory, the tradition paused during World War II when the race was suspended. When racing resumed, then-Speedway president and three-time winner Wilbur Shaw opted to hand the victors a silver cup of cold water instead, a brief era known as "Water from Wilbur." The dairy industry officially reclaimed its territory in 1956 two years after Shaw's passing by offering a $400 cash bonus to the winner and $50 to their chief mechanic. 3. Almost 700 Local Dairy Farmers Make It Happen Every Year The milk handed to the winner isn't just grabbed from a local grocery store shelf on race morning. It is provided by the American Dairy Association Indiana, an organization representing nearly 700 dairy farmers across the state. Every year, two designated Indiana dairy farmers are selected as the official Milk People. Their responsibilities include looking after the bottles and hand-delivering the ice-cold prize directly to the winning driver in Winner's Circle. 4. Drivers Can Choose Whole, 2 Percent Or Skim. Whole Milk Is Dominating Since 2006, the American Dairy Association Indiana has conducted an official pre-race preference poll asking all 33 drivers to lock in their choice of whole, 2 percent or skim milk. Whole milk remains the overwhelmingly popular choice. And that's not just for the taste. It's because it looks much better and thicker in photos. In fact, current stars like Alex Palou are purists about it, with Palou once saying, "The Indy 500 is about traditions and I do not think you can go with half measures... Whole milk it is. If there were double whole milk, I would just get that." 5. No, Buttermilk Is No Longer On The Menu Despite being the exact drink that Louis Meyer used to kickstart the whole phenomenon, buttermilk was taken off the official ballot in the mid-1990s. Modern buttermilk has evolved into a cultured baking ingredient rather than the sweet, rich byproduct of churned butter that Meyer drank. While a few nostalgic drivers might try to write it in on their ballots, officials won't hand them a bottle of it today because it simply wouldn't taste as good. 6. Winners Sip It, Pour It And Sometimes Even Dye It While the primary goal is to take a massive gulp for the cameras, modern winners love to pour the remainder of the glass bottle entirely over their heads. Some drivers get even more creative. In 2021, four-time winner Helio Castroneves secretly dumped a packet of strawberry powder into his bottle. Castroneves wanted pink milk to match his pink race car, creating one of the most colorful celebrations in the track's history. 7. Even Non-Milk Drinkers Say It's The Best Drink Ever You might think chugging dairy after driving inside a cockpit for three hours doesn't sound appealing, but drivers absolutely crave it. Even those who don't usually drink milk admit the history behind the tradition makes it taste that much better. As defending Indy 500 champion Alex Palou put it after the 2025 race: "I'm not a huge whole milk guy, like, just plain milk. But it tastes amazing. I loved it. "It was super sweet. It just felt amazing. It was the best drink ever."

Macklin Celebrini produced 115 points in his sophomore season and is now skating alongside Sidney Crosby at the World Championship. Brady Tkachuk has already called him Sidney Crosby 2.0 for the next 20 years.

SportsLine's Jacob Fetner reveals his best MLB home run props picks for Wednesday, May 20

The Indiana Fever announced that star guard Caitlin Clark would not play in Wednesdays game against the Fire. Status Update: Caitlin Clark (back) is out today. https://t.co/f8tR4ld5D7 Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 20, 2026While on the injury report Clark is listed as dealing with a back injury, beat reporter Scott Agness reported that this was a planned absence that is part of a strategic management plan for the season. Wednesdays game against Portland is Indianas fourth game in the last eight days. This story will be updated.

Aston Villa cruised to their first trophy in 30 years in a dominant 3-0 win over SC Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday night in Istanbul.

Legal documents require precision, and even a small mistake can create delays or rejection. A trained notary ensures every signature, date Top Rated Notary Services in Carson, CA, and identity check is handled correctly. This reduces risks and keeps important transactions legally valid. When individuals or businesses rely on proper notarization, they gain confidence that their paperwork meets...

Barcelona star Fermin Lopez has broken his silence following the devastating news that his 2026 World Cup dreams have been crushed by injury. The midfielder has undergone successful surgery on a fractured metatarsal and shared an emotional message with his supporters as he begins a long road to recovery. Surgery success for Barca star Barcelona have confirmed that Fermin has undergone successful surgery on the foot injury sustained during the final stretch of the La Liga campaign. The young midfielder was forced to go under the knife after suffering a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during Sundays 3-1 win over Real Betis, a game that saw him replaced at the interval. The club released an official statement following the procedure: "Fermin has undergone successful surgery for the fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. The procedure was carried out at the Hospital de Barcelona, under the care of Dr. Antoni Dalmau Coll and supervised by the Clubs Medical Services. The recovery time will be determined based on his progress." Life and football are cruel Taking to social media to update his followers, the 23-year-old did not hide his disappointment at the timing of the injury, which comes just as Spain preparations for the 2026 World Cup were shifting into gear. He acknowledged the mental toll such a setback takes on a professional athlete at the height of their powers. "The surgery went very well, and I'm already thinking about coming back stronger, both physically and mentally," Fermin stated. "Life and football are cruel when you least expect or deserve it, but you have to accept that it's all part of the journey. It's a very tough time for me and another challenge in my career that I will overcome, have no doubt about it. Now it's time to support the national team and my teammates from home. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone for your support and kind messages." World Cup dreams in tatters The timing of the fracture is particularly galling for the La Masia graduate, whose brilliant return of 13 goals and 17 assists in 48 appearances this season had him firmly in contention for a spot in Luis de la Fuente's starting XI. With the tournament set to kick off in June, the midfielder has effectively seen his World Cup dreams go up in smoke due to the expected recovery timeframe. Initial estimates suggest that Fermin will be sidelined for approximately three months, meaning he will miss not only the global showpiece in North America but also the entirety of Barcelona's pre-season. It is a major blow for Spain, who are already Strong support from the Blaugrana family Despite the heartbreak of missing out on the biggest stage in football, Fermin has not been left to navigate his recovery alone. This show of solidarity is reminiscent of the support Gavi received during his ACL recovery last year. Fermin expressed deep gratitude for the support, which also included visits from club officials. Barcelona will now focus on ensuring the 23-year-old returns in peak condition for the start of the 2026-27 season. For now, the energetic midfielder faces a summer of hard work in the gym rather than the glory he had hoped for on the pitch.