Frenchman Rene Thomas was the winner of the 1914 Indianapolis 500. In 1920, he came in second to fellow Frenchman Gaston Chevrolet.

Thomas competed in four Indy 500 races, the last in 1921. More than half a century later, in his late 80s, Thomas was honored at the 1973 Indianapolis 500. He died at age 89 in 1975.