Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!
Photo Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway photo Wally Dallenbach drove the No. 62 Olsonite Eagle in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. I believe this is the last time that number has been used in the 500. |
30 Days in May Bonus: No. 62, Wally Dallenbach, 1973
Olsonite Eagle/Offy. Then calling East Brunswick, New Jersey, home Wally Dallenbach
was about to enter a major career upswing in 1973, though not with Dan Gurney’s
All American Racers. Dallenbach’s oddly numbered No. 62 joined AAR holdovers
Bobby Unser and Jerry Grant for the 1973 500. In the race, Dallenbach is best
remembered for helping rescue Salt Walther from his burning and battered car
after his horrendous first-lap accident.
Once the race finally got under way – two days later –
Dallenbach made a nice charge from his 20th starting position into
the top 10 before a broken connecting rod bolt (a common malady that year)
sidelined him after 48 laps, resulting in a 24th-place finish.
Dallenbach joined the STP/Patrick team later in 1973,
winning the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway. Save for a one-year
sabbatical with Jerry O’Connell’s Sugaripe Prune team in 1978, Dallenbach
remained with Patrick the rest of his career, retiring after the 1979 season.
He returned to the cockpit in 1981 to qualify a Patrick car for Mario Andretti,
who was unavailable due to Formula One commitments.
Dallenbach then enjoyed a second career as a much-respected official
in CART.
#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar
No comments:
Post a Comment