P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Crew chief Adam Stevens had no second thoughts about the decision to pit Christopher Bell for slick tires late Sunday in Chicago, which took his driver from the lead to mid-pack. Bell pitted for th…
Crew chief Adam Stevens made the bold decision to pit Christopher Bell for slick tires in Chicago, dropping him from the lead to mid-pack during the race on Sunday. Bell pitted for slick tires on lap 43, just before the end of the second stage, differing from some teams that opted for wet weather tires. Despite the potential winning strategy, Bell’s race was disrupted when his teammate Truex Jr. hit him off Turn 2, resulting in a 37th-place finish. Stevens explained they saw the track drying quickly and anticipated a caution after the stage, so they decided to pit early for slick tires to have a chance at winning the race. However, the final caution with less than 12 minutes left in the race changed their fate, causing Bell to be involved in a crash shortly before the checkered flag. Bell had led the race for 14 laps and was once again disappointed after a late-race incident jeopardized his chances of victory, reminiscent of the previous year’s race in Chicago.
