It's National Donut Day. It's only right that INDYCAR drivers show you the proper way to celebrate.

Today is one of the two days that Americans celebrate the donut (or is it doughnut), the tasty fried dough treat that we can eat at almost any time.

But in Indy car racing, the donut is something completely different. It's a way to celebrate a win by putting on a smoke show for the fans. And it traces its roots to Indy car racing and Alex Zanardi.

The two-time Indy car champ is most often credited with making donuts a common gesture during his CART days. It started with the 1997 Long Beach Grand Prix.

In a story he told to Jalopnik last year, Chip Ganassi Racing's managing director Mike Hull said Zanardi started the tradition at Long Beach because "he felt as if he needed to give back to the fans somehow after the race, so he decided on a bit of show. 

The donut was so popular that Zanardi did donuts after his second win of the 1997 season at Cleveland. He did it again at Road America after scoring his fifth win of the year at Road America later that summer, capping a stretch of three wins in a row.

By then, a tradition was born. And we're glad it was.

So enjoy a look at National Donut Day: Indy car style.