Veterans in INDYCAR: Jason Bolles

Throughout the 2023 INDYCAR season, we’ll be highlighting veterans who work within the racing series, whether for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), INDYCAR or other racing teams.

This week we’re highlighting Jason Bolles, a race transport driver and pit crew member for Andretti Autosport. Bolles served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1991 to 2001, being activated during Operation Desert Storm. He joined Andretti Autosport in 2007 after moving from Delaware to Indiana.

Bolles spoke with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about the highlights of working for Andretti Autosport and what his Army National Guard experience has meant in his civilian life.

The American Legion: How did you come to work for Andretti Autosport?

Bolles: We decided to move to Indianapolis, and I happened to come out here without a job. I went to a restaurant with (his brother-in-law) who knew somebody in racing, and (Andretti Autosport) was looking for a truck driver. And it went from there.

Question: Andretti is one of those last names that you immediately associate with something. When you hear “Andretti,” you immediately associate it with excellence in auto racing. What’s it like being able to be a part of a team like that?

Bolles: It’s really exciting. The things that we learn, the way they work with the cars, as far as the technology, it’s things you wouldn’t think is possible. It’s a really good organization to work for. The way everything works here is there’s four different cars, but it’s all one team. It’s not an individual car team. Everyone works together, and that’s what I like about it. It's an “everybody’s got your back” thing.

Question: What are some of the highlights you’ve experienced with Andretti Autosport?

Bolles: When (team driver) Ryan Hunter-Reay won the (2012 INDYCAR SERIES) championship, that was really exciting. And then a few years later we won the (Indy) 500 with (Takuma) Sato. Those are two of the major things I’ve liked.

Question: You served 10 years in the military. Is there anything you learned from that experience that you’ve been able to take with you and use in the civilian world, whether working for Andretti Autosport or even prior to that?

Bolles: I look at myself a little bit differently. It gave me structure. And I look back on some of the things we do in the civilian world, as far as teamwork, everyone as one group working together to make everything possible. I took a lot of that from the military into the civilian world.