Today, a tradition returns to Milwaukee.

For generations, Indianapolis 500 winners could expect a cool drink of milk, followed by a trip to America’s Dairyland, as their next destination was the legendary Milwaukee Mile. With the exception of just five years, from 1947-1994, the best drivers in the world left the Brickyard and headed to State Fair Park, where the Mile hosted “the race after Indy.”

It was a tradition as much a part of the city’s summer as Braves and Brewers’ baseball, the U.S. Bank Championship (formerly the Greater Milwaukee Open) and even Summerfest. But after the infamous open-wheel feud that created the Indy Racing League and rival Champ Car, Milwaukee -- though a frequent host to races the weekend following Indy -- lost the connection to the famous race.

That changed last year, when Champ Car decided to give up its Milwaukee stop, a move that allowed the IRL to move back into the traditional, post-Indy slot.

So today, when the green flag drops to start the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225, it will also restore the city of Milwaukee to its rightful spot on the motor sports map. The IRL signed a two-year deal with the new promoters of the Mile to run the race the weekend after Memorial Day.

“The Milwaukee Mile and Indy-style racing have had a long and storied history,” IRL President and COO Brian Barnhart said. “For the last three years, we’ve been able to showcase our sport to the race fans in Wisconsin, and now we can complete the circle by reuniting the cars and drivers of the Indianapolis 500 with the traditional post-Indianapolis 500 date in Milwaukee.”

Fans, obviously, are happy; as are track organizers, who will be able to capitalize on the Indy 500 for marketing and ticket sales. Drivers, most of whom are too young to remember the glory days of racing in the Brew City, appreciate the city’s significance to the sport.

“It's a pretty neat deal that it's back there again," said Sam Hornish, Jr., who won the 2005 race here. “It took, the way I look at it, its rightful spot on the schedule. It was that way for so many years that it only seems right that that's how it goes."

The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest operating raceway in the world. Since it opened as a dirt track in 1903 -- eight full years before its much better known counterpart in Indianapolis -- it has played host to a who’s-who of auto racing.

While few people will be able to identify names like Barney Oldfield or Rex Mays, names like Unser, Foyt, Andretti, Rahal, Kulwicki, Fittipaldi, and Earnhardt have all cut their teeth on the 1.032-mile track nestled into an otherwise quiet West Allis neighborhood.

The return of the post-Indy dates also ushers in what is hoped to be a new era at the venerable facility. Milwaukee Mile Chairman Craig Stoehr is hoping to return the track to its status among the premier speedways in the world. Nearly $23 million has been spent on improvements in the past few years, in addition to the brand new, 40,000-seat grandstand.

Those who grew up in the neighborhood have grown accustomed to the sounds of racing, as well as the frequent test runs the track plays host to over the course of the year. The sounds are a nuisance, to be sure, but nonetheless just part of the simple charm that make racing in Milwaukee special.