# Wally Dallenbach Sr.

Wallace Jacob Dallenbach (December 12, 1936 – April 29, 2024) was an American racing driver and official. He competed primarily in United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Championship cars, and was the winner of the 1973 California 500. After retiring from driving, he served for more than 20 years as Chief Steward of Competition for Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).
Dallenbach was the father of NASCAR driver and commentator, Wallace Paul Dallenbach. After the younger Dallenbach began a professional racing career during the middle 1980s, the elder Dallenbach came to be known by the retronym Dallenbach Sr.

## Biography

Dallenbach was born in East Brunswick, New Jersey. After working in the construction industry, he began his racing career in modified racing. In 1962, he competed in the Daytona 500. He eventually settled on open-wheel racing, competing in midget and sprint cars before moving to Indy cars in 1965.

### Indy car career

After several years competing in uncompetitive equipment, Dallenbach's breakthrough came after being signed by team owner Pat Patrick to replace driver Swede Savage, badly injured during the 1973 Indianapolis 500. After Savage's death, Dallenbach's seat became permanent. Four races into his tenure with Patrick's team, Dallenbach scored his first victory, the Tony Bettenhausen 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. He scored two further victories in 1973, including the California 500. Despite not starting in four races during the 1973 season, Dallenbach finished the 1973 USAC Championship Car season ranked second in points.
Dallenbach nearly won the 1975 Indianapolis 500, dueling with A. J. Foyt for many laps. He led for half of the race, but burned a piston on lap 162, twelve laps before the race was called due to rain. Bobby Unser won the race, which was halted at lap 174 (435 miles).

### CART official

Dallenbach joined CART as Competition Director in 1980 and became Chief Steward of the series in 1981. Under his tenure, he greatly improved the safety program in CART, the preeminent sanctioning body of Indy car racing. He played an instrumental role in establishing the first dedicated rapid response trauma team in auto racing. He also established nondenominational church services for drivers and their families. Dallenbach held his position until the end of the 2000 season, after which he went into semi-retirement, serving as Special Advisor to CART and Chris Kneifel, his successor as Chief Steward.
Advance testing and practice in preparation for the 2001 Firestone Firehawk 600 – to be held at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) – saw numerous drivers black out due to unprecedented g-forces experienced at the track. Dallenbach had visited TMS as early as 1996, deeming it unsafe for Indy car competition. On the day of the race, despite pressure from stakeholders within the CART community to proceed with the event, it was decided to cancel to event in order to ensure the safety of the competitors.
Shortly thereafter, Dallenbach returned as Chief Steward for CART, replacing Kneifel, who had been the subject of criticism from many drivers. Dallenbach served until the conclusion of the 2004 season, after which he retired permanently.

### Post-racing activities

Dallenbach served as the president of the Colorado 500 motorcycle charity ride. The events have raised just under three million dollars in community support - including more than $800,000 in student scholarships - for the town of Basalt, Colorado, located in the Roaring Fork Valley region of western Colorado.
With his winnings from the California 500, Dallenbach purchased a ranch, fairground, cabins and a private automotive restoration garage near the Fryingpan River in upper Basalt. In 2023, he sold the property, returning with his wife to New Jersey. During their time in Colorado, the couple supported the development of local emergency services in the area; in 1976, Dallenbach purchased an ambulance for the town of Basalt.
Dallenbach died on April 29, 2024, at the age of 87.

## Awards and honors

Dallenbach has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
* Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame (1992)
* Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame (2004)
* Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey (2004)
* Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2006)
* Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2020)
* Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (2021)
* Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (2022)
* Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame (2022)
After his death in 2024, the community of Basalt, Colorado named their newest ambulance after Dallenbach; in 1976 he had purchased the community its first ambulance.

## Motorsports career results
### USAC Championship Car results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Rank | Points |
| 1965 | Joe Barzda | Kurtis | Offenhauser | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | PIP | TRE | IRP | ATL | LAN 13 | MIL DNQ | SPR | MIL | DUQ | ISF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37th | 80 |
| 1965 | Kenny Brenn | Meskowski | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 9 | SAC | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37th | 80 | |
| 1966 | Kenny Brenn | Meskowski | Offenhauser | PHX | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | ATL DNQ | PIP | IRP | LAN 13 | SPR | MIL 15 | DUQ | ISF | TRE 11 | SAC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 50th | 40 |
| 1966 | Taasi Vatis | Huffaker | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 50th | 40 | |
| 1967 | Taasi Vatis | Huffaker | Offenhauser | PHX 18 | TRE DNQ | INDY 29 | MIL 5 | LAN 12 | PIP | MOS 12 | MOS 12 | IRP 15 | LAN 4 | MTR 8 | MTR 15 | | MIL 21 | DUQ DNQ | ISF DNQ | TRE 19 | SAC DNQ | HAN 17 | PHX 15 | RIV 25 | | | | | | | | 21st | 410 |
| 1967 | Taasi Vatis | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | SPR 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21st | 410 | |
| 1968 | Taasi Vatis | Finley | Offenhauser | | | | TRE 3 | INDY 17 | MIL 7 | MOS DNQ | MOS | LAN 15 | PIP | CDR | | | | | | | | | MIL 20 | DUQ DNQ | | TRE 18 | | MCH 22 | HAN 23 | PHX 25 | | 16th | 960 |
| 1968 | Taasi Vatis | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | NAZ 11 | IRP | IRP | | | | | SPR 7 | | | ISF 13 | | SAC 9 | | | | | | | 16th | 960 | |
| 1968 | Taasi Vatis | Huffaker | Offenhauser | HAN 7 | LVG | PHX 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 3 | LAN 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 960 | |
| 1968 | Taasi Vatis | Huffaker | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MTR 20 | MTR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 960 | |
| 1968 | Rolla Vollstedt | Vollstedt | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RIV 29 | 16th | 960 |
| 1969 | Lindsey Hopkins | Eagle | Chevrolet | | | | | | | CDR 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RIV 7 | | | | | 6th | 1795 |
| 1969 | Lindsey Hopkins | Eagle | Offenhauser | PHX 2 | HAN 5 | INDY 21 | MIL 20 | LAN 3 | PIP | | | TRE 2 | IRP DNS | IRP DNQ | MIL 18 | | DOV 14 | DUQ Wth | ISF DNQ | BRN | BRN | TRE 10 | | | | PHX 3 | | | | | | | | | 6th | 1795 | |
| 1969 | Lindsey Hopkins | Kuzma | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | SPR 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 1795 | |
| 1969 | Lindsey Hopkins | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAC 9 | KEN | KEN | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 1795 |
| 1969 | Kenny Brenn | Meskowski | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | NAZ 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 1795 | |
| 1970 | Lindsey Hopkins | Eagle | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 620 |
| 1970 | Lindsey Hopkins | Eagle | Offenhauser | PHX 10 | SON | TRE 17 | INDY 17 | MIL 8 | LAN 7 | CDR | MCH 16 | IRP 5 | SPR | MIL 9 | ONT 28 | DUQ | ISF DNQ | SED | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 620 | |
| 1970 | Lindsey Hopkins | Kuzma | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 15 | SAC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 620 | |
| 1971 | Lindsey Hopkins | Kuzma | Offenhauser | RAF | RAF | PHX 7 | TRE 2 | INDY 24 | MIL 4 | | MCH 4 | MIL 4 | ONT 23 | TRE 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 1220 |
| 1971 | Lindsey Hopkins | Kenyon | Ford | | | | | | | POC 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 1220 |
| 1971 | Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 1220 | |
| 1972 | Lindsey Hopkins | Eagle | Offenhauser | PHX 9 | TRE 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 720 |
| 1972 | Andy Granatelli | Lola | Foyt | | | INDY 15 | MIL DNQ | MCH 2 | POC 14 | MIL DNQ | ONT 21 | TRE 7 | PHX 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 720 | |
| 1973 | Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | TWS | TRE | TRE | | MIL 4 | POC 29 | MCH 6 | MIL 1 | ONT 1 | ONT | ONT 1 | MCH 23 | MCH | TRE 3 | TWS 6 | PHX 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2620 |
| 1973 | Oscar Olson | Eagle | Offenhauser | | | | INDY 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2620 |
| 1974 | Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | ONT 7 | ONT | ONT 6 | PHX 6 | TRE 13 | INDY 30 | MIL 15 | POC 10 | MCH 6 | MIL 3 | MCH 11 | TRE 3 | TRE 12 | PHX 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 1445 |
| 1975 | Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | ONT | ONT 1 | ONT 10 | PHX 6 | TRE 5 | | | | | MIL 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2305 |
| 1975 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | DGS | | | | | | INDY 9 | MIL 4 | POC 2 | MCH 19 | | MCH 16 | TRE 5 | PHX 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2305 | |
| 1976 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | DGS | PHX 16 | TRE 6 | INDY 4 | MIL 12 | POC 3 | MCH 20 | TWS 2 | TRE 4 | MIL 17 | ONT 4 | MCH 3 | TWS 6 | PHX 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 3105 |
| 1977 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | DGS | ONT 18 | PHX 10 | TWS 3 | TRE 1 | INDY 4 | MIL 15 | POC 4 | MOS 16 | MCH 8 | TWS 17 | MIL 3 | ONT 20 | MCH 3 | PHX 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 2635 |
| 1978 | Jerry O'Connell | McLaren | Cosworth | PHX 14 | ONT 9 | TWS 4 | TRE 11 | INDY 5 | MOS 11 | MIL 3 | POC 4 | MCH 3 | ATL 9 | TWS 4 | MIL 7 | ONT 10 | MCH 11 | | SIL 14 | BRH 5 | PHX 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 2966 |
| 1978 | Jerry O'Connell | Lightning | Cosworth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 2966 | |
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Penske | Cosworth | ONT | TWS | INDY 27 | MIL | POC | TWS | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1981–82 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | INDY Rpl | POC | ILL | DUQ | ISF | INDY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |

### CART Championship Car results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points |
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 12 | 9th | 1149 |
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | PHX 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 1149 |
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Lightning | Cosworth | | ATL 11 | ATL 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 1149 | |
| 1979 | Patrick Racing | Penske | Cosworth | | | | INDY 27 | TRE 4 | TRE 2 | MCH 5 | MCH 10 | WGL 14 | TRE 4 | ONT 24 | MCH 6 | ATL 4 | | 9th | 1149 |

### Indianapolis 500 results

| Year | Car | Start | Qual | Rank | Finish | Laps | Led | Retired |
| 1967 | 53 | 15 | 163.540 | 19 | 29 | 73 | 0 | Crash FS |
| 1968 | 54 | 12 | 165.548 | 12 | 17 | 148 | 0 | Engine |
| 1969 | 22 | 19 | 166.497 | 19 | 21 | 82 | 7 | Clutch |
| 1970 | 22 | 24 | 165.601 | 31 | 17 | 143 | 0 | Coil |
| 1971 | 22 | 23 | 171.159 | 17 | 24 | 69 | 0 | Valve |
| 1972 | 40 | 33 | 181.626 | 18 | 15 | 182 | 0 | Flagged (substitute driver for Art Pollard) |
| 1973 | 62 | 20 | 190.200 | 26 | 24 | 48 | 0 | Broken rod |
| 1974 | 40 | 2 | 189.683 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 2 | Piston |
| 1975 | 40 | 21 | 190.648 | 4 | 9 | 162 | 96 | Piston |
| 1976 | 40 | 7 | 184.445 | 12 | 4 | 101 | 3 | Flagged |
| 1977 | 40 | 10 | 189.563 | 13 | 4 | 199 | 0 | Flagged |
| 1978 | 6 | 7 | 195.233 | 9 | 5 | 195 | 0 | Flagged |
| 1979 | 6 | 7 | 188.285 | 8 | 27 | 43 | 0 | Lost wheel |
| 1981 | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti | Substitute qualifier for Mario Andretti |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 1448 | 108 | |
| Starts | 13 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Front row | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Top 5s | 3 |
| Top 10s | 4 |
| Retired | 9 |
* In 1972, Dallenbach was bumped on the final day of time trials. Art Pollard crashed his qualified car on May 16, and was too injured to drive on race day. Dallenbach was hired to fill the seat, and the car was moved to 33rd starting position.