In the cutthroat world of NASCAR, where rivalries are as common as pit stops, an unexpected alliance was born between two of the sport’s biggest stars. Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin, known for their fierce on-track battles, united in the strangest way: through their shared frustration of mastering passing maneuvers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400.
When the green flag fell on the historic race, the two drivers, who have clashed countless times before, finally found themselves in uncharted territory. It seemed the difficulty of passing a competitor had become the common denominator that united them in a rare moment of unity. Let’s take a look at what they had to say:
Hamlin voices concerns over Indianapolis’ passing challenges
During a candid discussion on the podcast “Toxic Behavior with Denny Hamlin,” the Joe Gibbs Racing driver expressed deep frustration over the passing problems many drivers faced during the recent Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He revealed that he repeatedly raised concerns about NASCAR’s passing problems during the development of the next-generation car, but his warnings were ignored. “I asked her three times, ‘Is that right?’ because they didn’t let us run the other cars during preseason testing,” Hamlin complained, highlighting the lack of foresight on the part of NASCAR officials. During his remarks, it became clear that the disadvantage drivers face in traffic situations is an issue that will be exacerbated by the design of the next-generation car. “These next-gen cars are terrible at traffic. They’re the worst cars in NASCAR,” Hamlin admitted, elaborating on the cars’ shortcomings. It’s something that could have been avoided if they had listened to his warning!
This frustration stemmed from the fact that the leaders had a significant advantage on the track because the air was cleaner, while the riders behind had a hard time catching up. The conclusion was clear: the drivers may be able to pilot competitive cars, but the design of the next-gen cars makes passing very difficult, especially on tracks like Indianapolis, where airflow dynamics play a key role. His analogy comes from the difficulties Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott faced on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.
No. 9 Chevrolet’s frustration boils over after violation
Chase Elliott expressed his frustration reaching a boiling point when he received a blend line violation from NASCAR during the first leg of the race. The penalty was given after Elliott was battling for the lead before the green flag stop, and it’s fair to say Elliott strongly disagreed with the decision.
The penalty cost Elliott dearly, putting him a lap down and losing valuable track position. But his disappointment wasn’t just due to the penalty itself, but a broader issue with the difficulty of passing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott shared Hamlin’s sentiments, as evidenced by his impassioned radio messages during the race. Upon learning that Hamlin was struggling to pass the 34th-placed car, reporter Jordan Bianchi shared, “It would be great if you sent me a settings button. If not, you’re screwed.” In the end, both Elliott and Hamlin seemed to find themselves in a “weird position,” as Hamlin explained in his rant.
Despite their longtime rivalry, the two drivers found common ground in their shared frustration over passing issues at Indianapolis, evidence of the widespread issues facing NASCAR drivers at this historic track. Let’s see if these comments are taken into consideration in the future. Do you think NASCAR will work on the vehicle design or will it be another challenging test on the track for these drivers as the playoffs get closer and closer?
