Joel Thorne

Joel W. Thorne (16 October 1914 New York City – 17 October 1955 North Hollywood, California) was an American racecar driver, engineer, and playboy. He died when he crashed his private plane, after what witnesses described as "stunting", into an apartment building, killing eight residents including a two-month-old baby. Thorne raced his own cars is the Indianapolis 500, and later went on to attempt to design aircraft.

The 1946 Indianapolis 500 was won by a car built by Thorne and driven by George Robson. One of Thorne's cars also won the pole position and finished second in the 1939 Indianapolis 500 with Jimmy Snyder behind the wheel.