Chase Elliott returns to Chicagoland Speedway after seven years, and he's not convinced anyone has a true advantage.
What's changed at Chicagoland?
The NASCAR Cup Series is back at Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019, and Elliott says the track feels like a brand-new challenge.
The aging racing surface and the Next Gen car have combined to make Chicagoland a difficult track to master.
Elliott had established himself as one of the most consistent performers at Chicagoland before NASCAR left the track after the 2019 season.
How will drivers adapt?
Only three Cup Series drivers participated in Goodyear's tire test at Chicagoland earlier this year: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney.
Elliott said there are limits to what one driver can communicate, and that the fine details of the track have to be experienced firsthand.
What's next for Chase Elliott?
Elliott is scheduled to compete in Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race for JR Motorsports, giving him valuable extra laps around the resurfaced-feeling oval.
He admitted adapting to both cars after such a long absence hasn't been easy, but he's hoping to get up to speed quickly.
Elliott finished third in 2016, runner-up in 2017, 19th in 2018, and 11th in 2019 at Chicagoland, and he also captured the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at Chicagoland in 2014.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is looking to make a strong return to Chicagoland and get a good result on Sunday