George Mason (racing driver)

George Mason (6 May 1890 in Des Moines, Iowa – 13 September 1918 in Bordeaux, France) was an American racecar driver. A Red Cross ambulance driver in World War I, Mason was killed in action, or as the result of pneumonia.[1]

Mason has the unique distinction of being the first and, until Greg Ray in the 2003 race, only driver to field a car in the Indy 500 carrying the number 13 over the first 86 years of the event. From 1926–2002, usage of #13 was not permitted, and generally avoided by competitors due to superstitions.[2]