IndyCar: Former IndyCar driver and Chief Steward Dallenbach dies

Walter ‘Wally’ Dallenbach Sr. has died. Born in East Brunswick, NJ, Dallenbach was an American IndyCar racing driver and later a highly respected race official. He died today in Browns Mills, NJ at the age of 87.

He won the California 500 in 1973. After his retirement from driving, he served for more than 20 years as CART’s chief steward of competition.

Dallenbach was the father of NASCAR driver and commentator, Wally Dallenbach Jr. After his son began his professional racing career in the middle 1980s, Dallenbach came to often be known as Wally Dallenbach Sr

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).

He joined CART as competition director in 1980, and became chief steward of the series in 1981, a position he held until 2004. Under his tenure, he improved the safety program in CART. He also established nondenominational church services for drivers and their families.

Dallenbach has been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, due to his exploits at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well as the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame. Dallenbach was also voted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006, for his work as founder and president of the Colorado 500 Invitational charity motorcycle rides.

In 2020, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. In 2022, he was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.

Our condolences go out to his family.  He was a good man and will be missed.