1913 Delage Type R Roadster

Accompanied by drivers Rene Thomas and Albert Guyot, a pair of 1913 French Grand Prix Delage cars were shipped in 1914 to Indianapolis. Thomas, who had not previously driven at the Speedway, won at a record average speed of 82.474 mph. Guyot finished third. The cars were sitting on a New York dock, awaiting the homeward-bound trip, when an American sportsman came forth to purchase the 1914 winner. Before being retired, it completed 41 laps of the 1915 '500' in the hands of John DePalma, a brother of the famed Ralph DePalma, who won. Decades later, during the 1973 pre-race ceremonies, Thomas, now aged 89, was driven for a lap of honor in the riding mechanic's seat of the long-since-restored 1914 winner.