René Thomas (racing driver)

René Alfred Thomas (7 March 1886 – 23 September 1975) was a French racing driver. Thomas was also a pioneer aviator. He won the 1914 Indianapolis 500.

Biography
Thomas was born on 7 March 1886 in Périgueux, France.



A leading driver in his native France, Thomas traveled to the United States to compete in the Indianapolis 500 on four occasions. He won the 1914 Indianapolis 500 on his inaugural try driving a Delage.

Thomas was given leave from the French Army during World War I so he could continue to race. 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 driver Jean Chassagne on his winning 1922 TT Sunbeam.



On 6 July 1924 at Arpajon, France, Thomas set a new world land speed record when he drove a Delage at 143.31 mph.

On 28 May 1973, Thomas returned to Indianapolis to drive his winning Delage in a series of parade laps, prior to the start of the 1973 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 in Paris, France, at age 89.

Aviation
Beginning around 1910 Thomas flew airplanes for the Antoinette company whose president was Leon Levavasseur. Hubert Latham was one of Thomas's fellow Antoinette test pilots. Thomas competed in early aviation competitions throughout Europe. In Milan Italy in October 1910 Thomas was involved in the world's first mid-air collision when his Antoinette monoplane fell onto the Farman biplane of Scottish aviator Captain Bertram Dickson. Thomas miraculously was not seriously injured but Dickson suffered internal injuries and never fully recovered, eventually dying in 1913.