In a heart-pounding showdown at the Indianapolis Road Course, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard delivered high-octane drama that left fans on the edge of their seats. The spotlight was undeniably on Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, whose pursuit of victory took a few unexpected turns. As the dust settled, Michael McDowell emerged triumphant, leaving Elliott to grapple with the disappointment of the second spot.
During the post-race interviews, Chase Elliott was visibly unhappy about the result and wished he had that little bit extra to get the win that has eluded him all season long. He was clear about what cost him the race as he called out on his team.
Chase Elliott feels the win was there but the team let him down
The HMS star, acutely aware of the playoff stakes, entered the race with one goal in mind. Securing a win to clinch a playoff berth. Throughout the first two stages, he maintained a net P3, firmly in the hunt for the win. With over 30 laps to close the gap on leader McDowell of FRM in the final stage, following the clash with Suarez, victory seemed within reach. However, the checkered flag saw Elliott clinch P2, and a tinge of frustration colored his post-race interviews.
His frustration was palpable in his candid words, as he expressed the near-miss that stung. “Needed just a little bit more,” Elliott ruefully confessed. It was a sentiment shared by many fans who had their hopes pinned on his triumph. The question lingered – what had held him back from the ultimate glory?
When the reporter probed Elliott about the tantalizing pursuit of McDowell and the razor-thin margin that separated them, the blame was redirected towards his pit stop. Elliott’s response was unequivocal, “Yeah, I just lost too much ground under that pit cycle.” With the poised honesty of a seasoned competitor, he dissected the strategy and execution. “Was trying to pace myself for the long haul, kinda had that green flag feel so… and I thought I did that, just needed a better job getting through the traffic,” Elliott candidly explained.
Chase Elliott Shuts Down Reporter Insinuating Issues at Hendrick Motorsports
Although he might have called out the team for the pit stops. Earlier in the day in a pre-race conference, he was quick to back his team up when asked about the woes at Michigan.
Elliott’s confidence in his team did translate into a good show on the road
Before his anticipated road race, Chase Elliott faced the media, poised and confident. When asked about his mindset heading into the race, the 27-year-old speedster delivered a fitting reply, silencing skeptics and exemplifying why he’s one of the most watched and respected drivers on the roster. Despite a recent setback at the FireKeepers Casino 400, Elliott stood resolute. Following his mishap at MIS, fans erupted with criticism, some pointing fingers at his championship-winning crew chief, Alan Gustafson. They questioned his decision not to pit, leading to a rear tire blow-up that sent the #9 Chevy careening into the wall, triggering an early caution.
Elliott addressed the situation at the pre-race press conference with poise. He quelled doubts with his response, stating, “We’re all good, we’re just, we’re continuing to keep our heads down and work and that’s the only way we know how, you know? For us, we’re just continuing to go through our process every week and make sure we show up to the racetrack prepared, and when we get here, work through it.”
Watch This Story | Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott’s Downfall Ruined for Fans as NBC Fails to Learn from Fox’s Mistakes
Although slim, Elliott’s playoff chances are still alive as he will be racing at Watkins Glen next, where he is usually pretty strong. What are your thoughts on the Verizon 200 at Brickyard? Let us know in the comments below.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pr%2FSnqWtoZGhubq%2Fz6ipratemLyue82aqpyZomK7psPSZpqhmaOaeqa4y6KmraxdmK6tuNJmpq6sXZ2yr7DRopqkZZ2kwbC%2B0qmmq6yjYq60eceeZKudppqurb%2BMsJ%2BarF2hvLTAjKGgpmWknbJuvsCcnGg%3D