INDIANAPOLIS — Pato O’Ward, a popular driver in the IndyCar series, recently discovered a fun tradition many Indianapolis 500 drivers take part in: milking a cow. This quirky ritual is a way for racers to hopefully enjoy a glass of fresh milk in victory lane after the race. However, O’Ward hadn’t had the chance to partake in this tradition until now.
After expressing disappointment about missing this opportunity during his previous debut due to the pandemic, the Indiana Dairy Association and his team made it happen. They brought a cow named Rihanna to the track for O’Ward to milk early on Friday morning.
O’Ward, known for his friendly personality, was thrilled with the experience. He shared, “Woke up for some morning milking, and it was really cool. You have to warm her up, and she was fabulous. First try, and the milk was flowing!” This moment could symbolize good luck as he seeks his first win at the iconic Indy 500, where he has previously finished as the runner-up twice.
There’s a superstition among drivers: if you don’t milk the cow, you might not find yourself celebrating in victory lane. Fellow racer Robert Shwartzman, who recently earned the pole position as a rookie, emphasized this belief, recounting that those who skipped the milking often ended poorly. He noted that Alexander Rossi, who won as a rookie in 2016, had milked a cow beforehand.
O’Ward took Shwartzman’s words to heart and was determined to find and milk a cow himself. Thanks to some connections with local farmers, O’Ward was able to make it happen quickly, just in time for the exciting race weekend.
