Open-Wheels Staff
November 14, 2019 | 12:00 PM
With the inaugural running of the Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race presented by Mitchell Transmissions just three days away, the winner’s lot of prizes are coming into focus.
Thru Kaiser’s Visor, the twice-weekly newsletter that covers all forms of open-wheel racing in the United States, is happy to present the 2019 winner’s milk bottle of this year’s Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race.
Featuring glass engraving by B&K Imaging in Evansville, Indiana, the milk bottle proudly displays this year’s event logo as well as the “race winner” title as a keepsake for Sunday’s victor.
“Race week has been highly anticipated of months now, and we are finally here to announce these exciting prizes for our drivers,” said Tanner Watkins, owner/editor of Open-Wheels.com and the president of the Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race presented by Mitchell Transmissions.
“To formally unveil our winner’s milk bottle (to go along with the wreath from The Watering Can) is an exciting moment. There is a lot of tradition and history at Indianapolis tied to what seems to be such a simple inanimate object, and we are happy to bring that bit of tradition to the Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race.”
The tradition of drinking milk at the Indianapolis 500 began back in 1936 when Louis Meyer asked for a cold glass of buttermilk following his victory. An executive with the Milk Foundation saw Meyer’s swig as a marketing opportunity, repeating the act each year until 1947.
Between 1947 and 1955, the tradition went on a hiatus before being brought back permanently in 1956.
As winner of this year’s Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race, one driver will receive the previously-stated milk bottle and winner’s wreath, as well as one Derek Speare Designs Track Boss Classic button box – in addition to at least $400 in earnings by placing first overall.
The 2019 Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race presented by Mitchell Transmissions will be held on Sunday, November 17, featuring a worldwide broadcast live on RaceSpot TV. Coverage begins at 11:15 AM Eastern on iRacing.com/live.
The 2019 Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race is presented by Mitchell Transmissions. Mitchell Transmissions is an established business in the Evansville, Indiana area who boasts three decades of mechanical experience to help service the needs of many makes and models. You can visit Mitchell Transmissions in Newburgh, Indiana at 10672 West State Road, or give them a call at 812-853-3286.
Images by Tanner Watkins/Open-Wheels.com.
