Joel Thorne

Joel Thorne was an American racing driver, engineer, and all-around speed enthusiast. Best known for mixing brains with bravado, Thorne not only drove in the Indianapolis 500 throughout the late 1930s and 1940s but also designed and built the machines he raced. His final attempt to qualify for the famed race came in 1950, though that year, luck wasn’t on his side.

Nationality	American
Born	Joel Wolfe Thorne Jr. 16 October 1914 New York, New York, U.S.
Died	17 October 1955 (aged 41) North Hollywood, California, United States

Before trading waves for wheels, Thorne cut his teeth in speedboat racing, where his appetite for speed first took hold. Never one to stick to a single form of danger, he also dabbled in motorcycle racing, sustaining more than one injury in pursuit of the next adrenaline rush.

Thorne’s engineering was as notable as his driving. His cars weren’t just competitive, they were winners. In 1946, George Robson led one of Thorne’s creations to victory at the Indianapolis 500. Years earlier, in 1939, another Thorne-built car captured pole position and took a second-place finish with Jimmy Snyder behind the wheel.

As a driver, Thorne made an immediate mark. In his first three Indy 500 appearances, he placed inside the top five each time, with his best showing being 5th place in 1940.

Sadly, his story ended as dramatically as he lived it. In 1955, Thorne was killed when his private plane crashed into an apartment building, tragically taking three lives on the ground as well. Witnesses said he had been “stunting” moments before the impact.

Joel Thorne Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career	1950
Teams	Kurtis Kraft
Entries	1 (0 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1950 Indianapolis 500

Joel Thorne Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Team	WDC Points	WDC Pos.
1950	Thorne Engineering	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	0	NC