As the longest race in IndyCar’s history, the Indianapolis 500 has gathered a plethora of traditions over the years. Held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and forming the Month of May, the iconic race is the event that everyone focuses on throughout the year. To win the 500 is almost as sought after as winning the championship, if not more. Since its inception in 1911, nicknames and activities throughout the event have become as famed as the race itself, and here, we go through some of them. 

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The track itself forms one of the biggest traditions. In 1909, crushed stone and tar created the initial track. However, officials quickly deemed this surface unsuitable and dangerous, and repaved it using bricks. This new surface lead to the track gaining the nickname ‘The Brickyard‘. The start/finish line still sees a segment of this brick layout, while workers repaved the rest of the track with asphalt.

Another tradition linked to the track itself is the pit lane. Like all IndyCar races, the Indy 500 requires teams to refuel their cars throughout the race. When designers first built the track, they included a diner at the end of the garages. Those elements have given the IMS pit lane the moniker ‘Gasoline Alley‘. Since then, a fire in 1941, and expanding demands have led to two rebuilds. Now, it is a modern garage complex. Despite the changes, the nickname has remained as a homage to the original configuration.  

Finally, fans have historically associated the infield of Turn 1 with its college-like atmosphere, and knew it as the ‘Snake Pit’. Here, many fans consumed alcohol and partied through the race, giving the area a ‘rowdy’ atmosphere. Although, through new management and law enforcement, this area became calmer throughout the 1990s. Today, organisers have relocated the Snake Pit—now known as the ‘New Snake Pit’—to the infield of Turn 3, where it serves at the track’s party zone. Throughout the Indy 500, this part of the track has a stage and is where the concerts take place. 

Carburation Day

Carburation Day, now shortened to Carb Day, refers to the final day of practice that kicks off the race weekend. The name refers to the practice session being the last time teams could tune the cars’ carburettors in similar conditions to the race itself. Whilst the cars haven’t required carburettors since 1963, the name has remained to signify the beginning of the race weekend. 

These days, the final practice session is the shortest full practice session, at two hours long. Teams use this time to finalise their race day set up, as well as conducting any final checks and adjustments. After the final practice session, drivers draw their positions for qualifying the following day.

Over the years, more activities have been added to Carb Day to make it a mini-event in itself. Following final practice, teams compete in the Pit Stop Challenge. A tournament-style competition where teams go head-to-head simulating pit stops. This began in 1977 and has since become a staple on the Indy 500 calendar. The day also features a concert after the track action has completed, and since 2025, also holds the Wienie 500. 

Legends Day 

Celebrating the history of the Indy 500, the day before the race has become known as Legends Day. It begins with autograph sessions from both legendary veteran drivers and the current grid. Following these sessions comes the Public Driver’s Meeting. Here, officials present all 33 starters with the starter’s ring and discuss any clarifications, instructions, and information. This meeting happens on track, allowing fans to watch.

Typically, Legends Day also holds a parade showcasing classic cars from Indy 500’s history, and the day finishes with a concert. It also features the 500 Festival Parade, a charity event held in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate both the race and the state.

Pre-Race for the Indianapolis 500

Due to the prestigious nature of the Indy 500, the race sees a lengthy pre-race schedule compared to other IndyCar races. Featuring parades and music, the pre-race is just as much of a spectacle as the race itself. Ahead of the race, you will see:

• Opening the gates to the fans.
• Cars are taken to pit lane.
• The Borg-Warner Trophy marched to the bricks.
• The cars are taken to the front stretch of the track.
• Parades including: the past winners, historic race cars, and military appreciation. 
• The drivers are introduced.
• The invocation and National Anthem.
• A performance of ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’.

Alongside these traditions, since 1919, The Purdue All-American Marching Band performs throughout the day, including accompanying the singer of ‘Back Home Again In Indiana’. 

Following the Race

Similar to the pre-race, post-race also sees a variety of traditions that differ to the rest of the IndyCar races. Following winning the race, the driver will drive to a stretch of the main front between the pit lane and track called ‘Victory Lane’. Here, celebrations begin with the awarding of the Borg-Warner trophy, a laurel wreath, and milk of their choice to begin their celebrations. 

The Borg-Warner Trophy

The Borg-Warner trophy is one of the most recognisable prizes in all of sports, and celebrates the history of the Indy 500. It is a sterling silver trophy that showcases 3D sculpted faces of each winner. As of 2025, it features 112 drivers, and for the last three decades, Will Behrends has been the sculptor. Engravers also add the winner’s name alongside the year and their average speed throughout the race. 

The trophy debuted in 1936 and now stands over 5 feet tall. When officials created the trophy they included the previous 24 winners, so the trophy showcases every winner the race has seen. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum houses the trophy, however, the winners are gifted a ‘Baby Borg’. This is a miniature 14-inch version for them to keep. 

Milk For The Winner

One of the more peculiar traditions of the Indy 500 comes from the drink they have throughout celebration. In most races throughout motorsports, the winner celebrates with champagne or sparkling wine, or a sparkling alternative. However, for the Indy 500, the winner celebrates by drinking milk. 

This tradition began in 1936 by Louis Meyer. He’d just won his third Indy 500 and, instead of the traditional champagne, opted to drink buttermilk for the hydration benefits. A Movietones News cameraman captured him drinking the milk. After seeing the footage, an executive from the dairy industry requested milk to be made available for every winner. 

Consequently, it became an iconic moment of the event, and now choosing their milk is also an important pre-race tradition. Drivers can choose between whole, skimmed, 2%, and a milk alternative.

Kissing The Bricks

Kissing the bricks is one of the newer traditions for the Indy 500, and it began in 1996 in NASCAR. Dale Jarrett won the Brickyard 400, and when on Victory Lane, his crew chief Todd Parrott reminded him about a joke they shared ahead of the race. The pair had joked that if they won, they’d kneel and kiss the bricks, and to stick to their word, that’s what they did.

The following year, Ricky Rudd decided to imitate them. After winning the Brickyard 400, he also kissed the bricks on the start/finish line. With these two paving the way, it became standard for the winner to do that, and it wasn’t long before the IndyCar drivers joined the tradition and brought it over to the Indy 500. 

These are just a few of the traditions that surround the Indianapolis 500. With over one hundred years of history, the traditions are just as iconic as the race itself, and give the event its unmatched feeling. Images of drivers wearing the wreath and drinking milk are some of the most memorable in all of motorsports, and it’s these traditions that bring the allure.

The Indianapolis 500 isn’t just a race, it’s a famed event loved by drivers and fans worldwide. Traditions like these have helped form the event and make it an unmissable spectacle year after year.