Axios Indianapolis

May 22, 2025
Happy Thursday and a hearty congratulations to Tortoise Palou, who won the Zoopolis 500 yesterday.
🌧️ Today's weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of showers.
- 🧐 Race day weather watch: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Rain is tracking south of the city but there is still uncertainty and chances of it impacting the race are 30%.
🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Indianapolis members Chris Kline and Aaron Vigil-Martinez!
🏀 Situational awareness: The Pacers stunned Madison Square Garden last night with a 138-135 overtime win against the Knicks, taking the first game in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Today's newsletter is 951 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Lindsey Erdody.
1 big thing: Indy loses a legend
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died in his sleep yesterday at age 65, per a post from the team.
The big picture: Under Irsay's decades of leadership, the Colts won 10 division titles, two AFC championships and Super Bowl XLI in the 2006 season with quarterback Peyton Manning and coach Tony Dungy.
Flashback: Irsay joined the Colts staff in 1982 and became the general manager in 1984 at age 24 when the team moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis. He became the sole owner in 1997.
- "Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed," the Colts said in a statement posted to the team's social media accounts.
What they're saying: "I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay's passing. He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL," Peyton Manning shared on Instagram.
- "Heartbreaking," former Colts long snapper Matt Overton wrote on X. "His passion for the Colts and the game was always evident."

Between the lines: A cause of death was not shared, but Irsay had health problems for years.
Zoom in: In his final X post shared around noon Wednesday, Irsay continued to show his love and support for Indy, cheering on the Pacers.
Zoom out: Irsay was also known for his philanthropic efforts in the community. The Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay opened in 2015 just east of Lucas Oil Stadium.
- He also had a passion for music, assembling a collection of unique rock 'n' roll memorabilia and creating and leading The Jim Irsay Band.
2. Winners drink milk. Lactose-free for the rest of us.
Whole milk is most popular among Indianapolis 500 drivers — who famously drink milk in the Winner's Circle — but there's a different rising star in the dairy aisle: lactose-free milk.
Why it matters: Health-conscious consumers — many of them lactose intolerant — are redefining what "healthy milk" means and moving away from almond and oat drinks.
By the numbers: Sales of lactose-free and lactose-reduced dairy milk (think: brands Fairlife and Lactaid) grew about 14% in the past year, and have driven dairy's overall comeback, per NielsenIQ data shared with Axios.
- Meanwhile, plant-based milk sales have dropped 5% year over year.
Catch up quick: Soy milk led the alt-milk charge in the '90s, followed by almond (still the category leader despite a recent dip) and oat.
What's happening: Consumers are returning to cow's milk because they're getting wise to the fact that there are additives like texturizers in many plant-based alternatives, Chris Costagli, NIQ VP of food insights and a dairy industry veteran, says.
- Plus, lactose-free dairy milk offers inherent protein and calcium and tends to froth better, taste creamier and not curdle in hot beverages.
Between the lines: Lactose-free dairy milk is typically cow's milk with an added enzyme that breaks down the lactose.
Zoom in: Indy 500 drivers can choose if they want whole, 2% or skim milk post-race, should they win.
- This year, 28 chose whole milk and five chose 2%.
Yes, but: Lactose-free milk isn't an option.
3. Pit stop: St. Elmo's for senators
🍤 Sen. Todd Young is providing lunch for his Senate Republican colleagues today — a weekly tradition when they're in session — and they're getting ... what else? St. Elmo Steak House's famous shrimp cocktail.
- Young's staff tells us the theme is "Back Home Again in Indiana" and there will be sugar cream pie and goodie bags filled with swag from IU, Purdue and, of course, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
🏎️ Team Penske fired its top three executives amid the cheating scandal that sent two of its three IndyCar drivers to the back of the Indianapolis 500 starting grid. (Associated Press)
🎙️ Carmel's Palladium will host singer Lisa Loeb, Fitz and the Tantrums, comedian Jay Leno, mandolin player Chris Thile and others for its 15th season. (IBJ)
😶🌫️ Southsiders are concerned about air quality around an Ingredion, a starch manufacturer planning to expand its operation. (Mirror Indy)
4. Conor Daly's best day ever — off the track
Hometown hero Conor Daly will start the Indianapolis 500 Sunday from the middle of row 4, in the 11th spot — matching his best-ever start in the race.
Driving the news: Daly, who has finished in the top 10 the last three years, is trying to become the first Hoosier-born driver to win the 500 since Wilbur Shaw did it in 1940.
Zoom in: Before he starts his 12th Indy 500, we caught up with Daly and asked him how he'd spend his Best Day Ever in the Circle City (you know, other than winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing).
🧃 Breakfast: Garden Table
- "A great place for farm-to-table food and some awesome cold-press juice — a perfect starting point for a big day," Daly said.
🏋️ Morning activity: Hitting the gym. IndyCars don't have power steering, so the physical demand to drive them for 500 miles is intense.
🥪 Lunch: Chatham Tap on Mass Ave
- "The finest British pub in all of Indy!" Daly said. "A great place to grab lunch and/or watch soccer."
5. Weekender: The city's slowest pit stop
It seems like everyone in Indy has the need for speed.
Yes, but: For those who prefer to take it slow, we've got the perfect recommendations for fun away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
What's happening: Step into the city's slowest pit stop to see the giant Aldabra tortoises make their return to the Indianapolis Zoo this Memorial Day weekend.
- Their permanent home is still being built, so they're spending their time in an exhibit space called "The Pit Stop" near the flamingoes.
If you go: 1200 W. Washington St.
- Tickets start at $32.
Our picks:
🤘 Arika has Creed stuck in her head. Thanks a lot, Felix Rosenqvist.
🎮 Justin is obsessed with collecting old Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn controllers.
🎟️ Lindsey is trying to decide which concerts to buy tickets for this summer.
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