| René Thomas | |||||||
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 Thomas at the1914 Indianapolis 500 | |||||||
| Born | René Alfred Thomas (1886-03-07)7 March 1886 | ||||||
| Died | 23 September 1975(1975-09-23) (aged 89) Colombes,Hauts-de-Seine, France | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| Major victories Indianapolis 500 (1914) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 6th (1920) | ||||||
| First race | 1914Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| Last race | 1921Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| First win | 1914Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
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René Alfred Thomas (7 March 1886 – 23 September 1975) was a Frenchracing driver.[1] Thomas was also a pioneeraviator.[2] He won the1914 Indianapolis 500.[3]
Thomas was born on 7 March 1886 inPérigueux, France.
A leading driver in his native France, Thomas traveled to the United States to compete in theIndianapolis 500 on four occasions. He won the1914 Indianapolis 500 on his inaugural try driving aDelage.[4]
Thomas was given leave from theFrench Army duringWorld War I so he could continue to race.[4] Laminated spring steel steering wheels were manufactured in the inter-war period engraved with Thomas' portrait and signature and were used particularly on Delage motorcars, but also by racing driverJean Chassagne on his winning1922 TT Sunbeam.[5]
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On 6 July 1924 atArpajon, France, Thomas set a new worldland speed record when he drove a Delage at 143.31 mph (230.64 km/h).
On 28 May 1973, Thomas returned to Indianapolis to drive his winning Delage in a series of parade laps, prior to the start of the1973 Indianapolis 500. Although he did not drive the car himself, he did sit in the seat where the riding mechanic would sit.
Thomas died on 23 September 1975 inParis, France, at age 89.[3]
Beginning around 1910 Thomas flew airplanes for theAntoinette company whose president wasLeon Levavasseur.Hubert Latham was one of Thomas's fellow Antoinette test pilots. Thomas competed in early aviation competitions throughout Europe. InMilan Italy in October 1910 Thomas was involved in the world'sfirst mid-air collision when hisAntoinette monoplane fell onto theFarman biplane of Scottish aviator CaptainBertram Dickson. Thomas miraculously was not seriously injured but Dickson suffered internal injuries and never fully recovered, eventually dying in 1913.
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Rene Thomas, the French racing driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1914, died here yesterday. He was 89 years old.
The internationally famed Rene Thomas, winner of the 1914 500-mile international sweepstakes race, has been given freedom from military service in France and will drive, May 30, in the sixth annal international sweepstakes race at ...
| Preceded by | Indianapolis 500 Winner 1914 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
