John S. Zink, Tulsa, OK died 2/5/2005 age 75

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John S. Zink, the Tulsa, Oklahoma industrialist whose cars won the Indianapolis 500 in 1955 with
  driver Bob Sweikert and 1956 with driver Pat Flaherty, died Feb. 5 in a Tulsa hospital.  Zink, who
  was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at a dinner in May 2004 in Indianapolis, was 75.
  Only 23 years old when he entered a car in the “500” for the first time, “Jack” Zink had at least
  one car in the lineup every year between 1952 and 1967. Somewhat following in the footsteps of
  his father, John S. Zink Sr., who had sponsored a car driven by Cecil Green in 1950 and 1951,
  Jack Zink arrived with his operation in 1952 and with a driver even younger than himself – 22-
  year-old Jimmy Reece. They finished seventh.  John Zink Specials won 13 National Championship 
  races between 1955 and 1966, four each with Jud Larson and Jim McElreath, two each with
  Sweikert and Flaherty, and one with Lloyd Ruby. Zink also partnered with Bob Wilke of Leader
  Cards, Inc., to field the car with which Jim Rathmann won all three heats of the 1958 500-mile
  race at Monza, Italy.  The victories by Sweikert, Flaherty, Larson and Rathmann came with A.J.
  Watson as chief mechanic, while the victories of Ruby and McElreath were wrenched by Denny
  Moore.  Never satisfied with “status quo,” Zink entered a revolutionary car in 1961 for 1952
  winner Troy Ruttman. Not only was the car rear-engined, but it was supposed to have been
  powered by a gas turbine. Built in Tulsa by Moore, it arrived late and without the turbine. After
  testing briefly during the early part of the summer, and with an Offenhauser engine in place of the
  turbine, it was decided to start again from scratch.  A second rear-engine car was readied for
  1962, this time based on the 1961 Cooper and the Lotus 18. Powered by a Boeing gas turbine,
  the driver this time was American road racing standout Dan Gurney. Required to take a “rookie”
  test, Gurney did so with the very front-engine “roadster” that had been driven to victory by
  Flaherty in 1956. Although the turbine was tested extensively by Gurney, Chuck Hulse and Bill
  Cheesbourg, it was withdrawn without a qualifying attempt being made.  In 1964, Zink partnered
  with Jack Brabham, who had already won two of his three Formula One World Championships
  and who had recently become an F1 car constructor. Although Brabham only lasted for 77 laps in
  the 1964 “500” with his rear-engine Brabham/Offy, McElreath drove it with great distinction
  during the next 2 ˝ seasons. More importantly, this was the car which was virtually duplicated as
  the Brawner Hawk series, driven to so many victories in the mid-and late 1960s by Mario Andretti.
  Arrangements for Zink are pending.  Media Contacts: Ron Green, Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
  (317) 492-6780, rgreen@brickyard.com  Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (315) 673-
  0184, pkelly@brickyard.com    World Wide Web: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com
From the race track to the boardroom, Jack Zink has always been a pacesetter. It's in the
  genes: he comes from a long line of Tulsans who left their mark on that community.  But
  Zink credits Oklahoma State and his engineering degree ('51 mechanical eng.) for
  preparing him to launch the John Zink Company to an industry world leader. Today this
  Tulsan is president and chairman of Zeeco, Inc.  Zink is not all work and no play. His auto
  racing reputation is well-known, as he and his cars made their way to many Memorial Day
  "Indy 500s". There is one driving philosophy that pervades this leader in all his activities:
  "To finish first, first you must finish."  Leadership, a Zink family trait, and his love of
  OSU enticed Jack Zink to pick up the mantle for the "Bringing Dreams to Life" campaign.
  As chair of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology campaign, Zink lends
  his energies toward achieving the goal of raising $21.5 million.  Zink's drive and experience,
  as one of OSU's most successful graduates, will make that dream reality. (1998 Oklahoma
  State University website)