Veterans in INDYCAR: Kyle Nelson

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

This week we’re highlighting Kyle Nelson, who serves as transport driver primarily for CGR’s IMSA program. Nelson was a military policeman in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2018 to 2022 and started with CGR in 2022.

Nelson spoke with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about what it’s like working for Ganassi in what will be a championship season, using his military skills now in the civilian world, and seeing The American Legion team with CGR to bring awareness about veteran suicides through the Be the One initiative.

Steven Brooks: How did you get into racing and then end up with Chip Ganassi Racing?

Kyle Nelson: My brother works with the (CGR) IMSA team as a bodywork mechanic. He’s the one who led me to this job.

Question: You’ve been there just over a year. In that time, what’s it been like being part of a team that is so good on so many levels, and basically puts out every weekend drivers that have a chance at either the pole or winning. And this year, guaranteed to win an INDYCAR SERIES championship?

Nelson: Honestly, it’s pretty great. Watching everybody work together to achieve the one goal that we have the remainder of the season: to win the championship. It’s really cool to see everybody work together to get things done and be able to get our drivers out there in either a pole-position car or a winning car. It’s always great to see us down on that track every weekend.

Question: What have you been able to take from your time in the Marine Corps and apply it to your civilian life, whether it’s working for Ganassi or in your day-to-day life?

Nelson: Critical thinking and attention to detail, I think, probably are two of the key things I use daily, with Ganassi and at home. The skills I had to learn as an MP – how to talk to people and how to listen – it’s come into play every now and again here at the shop or at the track.

Question: We teamed up with CGR a few years ago, and now we’re the primary sponsor on Alex Palou’s car a good portion of the season. We’ve also been on the cars for Marcus Ericsson and Marcus Armstrong. When you see that you know that it represents more than a million veterans and their families, and it also represents our Be the One suicide prevention initiative. How does it make you feel to see your team trying to share that critical message while representing well over a million veterans, like yourself?

Nelson: It’s really great, honestly, being able to get the message out there. I’ve had to deal with veteran suicides, or at least those who have thought about wanting to hurt themselves. It’s kind of more personal for me. It wasn’t ever fun when I was in the Marine Corps to notify families or units that their servicemember is no longer part of this world anymore. So, I think it’s really great. It’s opening the eyes of everybody else that’s out there, too, to at least just reach out and talk to a veteran, make sure they’re still doing good.