Louis Meyer July 21, 1904 - October 7, 1995) was an American Hall of Fame race car driver best known as the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. Born in lower Manhattan, New York the son of French immigrants, Meyer was raised in Los Angeles where he began automobile racing at various California tracks. He went on to become the first-ever driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, capturing the prestigious race as a rookie starter in 1928 (though having driven as a relief driver the year before), then again in 1933 and 1936. Louis Meyer started the tradition of drinking milk (buttermilk at the time) in victory lane at the 1936 Indy 500 race and following the suggestion of former race winner, Tommy Milton, that year he became the first driver to receive the Pace Car as part of the race winnings. Louis Meyer won the United States National Driving Championship in 1928,