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1955
Indianapolis 500® Winner
"John Zink Special"
Driver: Bob Sweikert - Car#6
Carousel Item# 4501
 Bob Sweikert's first start
at Indianapolis was in 1952. In the 1955 Indianapolis 500 race he drove
a Kurtis Kraft Roadster for car owner John Zink, with A.J. Watson as his
chief mechanic. Sweikert had already used two
of his three qualifying
attempts when he qualified 14th fastest at 139.996 mph on the 3rd day of
qualifying. Early in the race, Bill Vukovich and Jack McGrath, both in
KK500C's, staged a thrilling duel for the lead. Sweikert moved up to 3rd
place by lap 35. McGrath went out with engine trouble on the 55th lap.
Leading Sweikert on Lap 57, Vukovich rounded Turn 2 and ran into a
three-car accident. Vukovich was fatally injured in the crash. The field
ran under yellow for nearly half an hour while the track was cleared.
When racing resumed, Jimmy Bryan led, with Sweikert in pursuit. Bryan's
engine failed after 89 laps, leaving the lead to Sweikert. 
While
Sweikert made his final pit stop on Lap 133, Art Cross and Don Freeland
moved
Bryan's
engine failed after 89 laps, leaving the lead to Sweikert. While
Sweikert made his final pit stop on Lap 133, Art Cross and Don Freeland
moved into 1st and 2nd place. Sweikert resumed the lead when they
pitted. Trying to catch Sweikert, Cross blew an engine. Sweikert led
with half a lap over Freeland, until Lap 178 when Freeland's
transmission failed. Pat O'Connor and Tony Bettenhausen raced for 2nd
place until O'Connor had a 4-1/2 minute pit stop, dropping him to 8th
place. Sweikert cruised to victory, finishing more than a lap ahead of
Bettenhausen. Sweikert's winning speed in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 was
128.209 mph.
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