Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott were involved in a horrific crash during the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. While Bell wasn't made available to the media post-race, Joe Gibbs Racing owner Joe Gibbs has given an update on his star driver's health. 

During the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, on Lap 148, Bell and Elliott collided while fighting for second place. The crash took place at around 200 mph, which resulted in a destroyed car. However, both drivers walked away from the horrific crash on their own. 

After the crash, both drivers were taken to the infield care center, where they were seen and released. While talking to the media during his media availability post-race, Coach Gibbs gave an update about Bell’s health.

"I think it's just we're going to continue tonight when he gets home," Gibbs said via Cup Scene on YouTube. "We're going to make sure that he gets everything he needs to get there, whatever it might be, and then we'll just have to kind of wait. So, it is his wrist and his ankle, I think. So, we're just going to have to wait."

The impact of the crash was absorbed by the SAFER barrier. However, the impact was so strong that it bent the barrier inwards, and the safety crew had to use a sledgehammer and welding tools to repair it. This led to the race being red-flagged. 

While an update from Christopher Bell is awaited, Chase Elliott has given his side of the story as to what went wrong. 

Chase Elliott Opens Up About the Michigan Crash

The Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers collided as they went into Turn 3. Elliott lost control of the car and went high and hit Bell, sending the latter into the outside wall. The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car caught on fire just as the safety workers reached the incident. 

The 2020 Cup Series Champion took accountability for the incident and apologized to the whole No. 20 team. 

"I just really, really hate that happened, first and foremost," said Elliott. "I want to apologize to Bell and the whole 20 team. That was my fault. I ran on the bottom, got loose, thought I was going to spin, and I had kind of committed to spinning out and just hoping I could spin, basically. And as soon as I started to commit to spinning out, it hooked a right, and unfortunately, he was out there."

Post the incident, while walking towards the medical car, the two drivers were seen talking it out as Elliott went on to check on Bell. After starting the race in 6th, Chase Elliott ended up 32nd, while Christopher Bell started the race in 8th and ended up in 31st in the final results.

For JGR, however, the weekend also had a victory to celebrate. Denny Hamlin took his 63rd Cup win and equaled Kyle Busch for ninth on the all-time win list.

As for Bell, it is unclear whether he will be racing at the upcoming race at Pocono Raceway.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak