Former Indy Car Owner Dies at 75

INDIANAPOLIS February 7, 2005; The AP reported that former car owner John Zink Jr., whose 13 Champ Car victories included two Indianapolis 500 titles, has died at 75.

Zink, who was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame last May, died Saturday at a hospital in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Monday.

Zink had at least one car in the Indianapolis 500 each year from 1952-67, winning in 1955 with driver Bob Sweikert and 1956 with Pat Flaherty. Aside from Sweikert and Flaherty, his drivers included Jimmy Reece, Jerry Hoyt, Gene Hartley, Troy Ruttman, Jud Larson, Ed Elisian, Bob Veith, Lloyd Ruby, Jack Brabham and Jim McElreath.

He also was co-owner of Jim Rathmann's winning car in a 500-mile race at Monza, Italy, in 1958.