The Chicagoland Speedway is presented as a renovated track for the NASCAR Cup Series, with high expectations for how the race will unfold this Sunday night. This is not a new track due to the time elapsed since its last race, but because the NextGen platform offers a radical change compared to its predecessors.
The drivers, such as Chase Briscoe, indicate that it feels like they have to learn to compete on a completely new circuit. Briscoe, who has raced on this layout for years, points out that there is now more grip than before. It seems contradictory that a track that hasn’t been used since 2019 can have more grip currently, but this is how many drivers perceive it.
Briscoe commented that there has been no usual drop in lap times during the race here, something that has left Tyler Reddick perplexed, who had the fastest car in long runs during practice. According to him, he expected it to be more complicated and that the tires would wear out more quickly.
Moreover, the circuit features new pavements and patches that drivers will have to keep in mind. One of the most curious aspects is a jump found on lap 1 and another on lap 3, the latter compared to the jump at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
The driver Denny Hamlin, who has secured the pole position, highlighted that the new design of the NextGen allows his category to race closer together without losing control, thus offering exciting battles on the track. However, it is likely that the pressure to maintain position in the race could lead to incidents in areas with bumps, as seen on laps 3 and 4.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
