Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Motorsport
Motorsport
Matt Weaver

Christopher Bell dealing with wrist and ankle injury says Coach Gibbs

Christopher Bell was evaluated and released from the infield care center at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday following a vicious impact during a crash on Lap 147 of the NASCAR Cup Series race.

The incident occurred when Chase Elliott bobbled underneath him, breaking traction and sending them both hard into the wall. Bell’s impact crushed the SAFER Barrier and necessitated a lengthy repair and Elliott then gave him a second impact on the driver side.

Elliott was evaluated and released and spoke to the media afterwards but Bell exited out the other side of the facility without comment. Team owner Joe Gibbs confirmed during a post-race press conference that Bell is dealing with injuries to his wrist and ankle.

"I think it's just we're going to continue tonight,” Gibbs said of his continued evaluation. “When he gets home, we're going to make sure that he gets everything that 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.”

Joe Gibbs Racing has not issued any additional statement beyond what Coach Gibbs said following the race.

For his part, Elliott says he has no lingering issues from the incident.

"I feel okay," Elliott said. "I just really, really hate that happened, first and foremost. 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. So it was definitely a big one. I knew that he kind of took the brunt of it, I felt like, in that, so yeah, I definitely just hate it. Hate that it happened. Hate that it happened to anybody, but certainly -- he races me with a lot of respect, and it was nothing intentional. I just stepped over the line and over-corrected."

Bell climbed out of his car under his own power and was met on the track by Elliott. There was a brief exchange of words and a side-hug. Elliott apologized for the incident.

"I mean, it was a huge hit," Elliott said. "Huge hit for him. Pretty big hit for me, too. So I just knew that when it happened. And when you're watching the wall come that quick, it's going to be large. I knew he'd already hit the wall hard, too, before I hit him. So those things happen fast, but I saw it happen. I knew it was big, so I just wanted to make sure he was alright and just tell him 'I'm so sorry,' because that was not at all my intention for that to happen."

Photos from Michigan - Sunday

53 NASCAR Cup Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Gayle

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing, Daniel Suárez, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

General view

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Austin Hill, Richard Childress Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

General view

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

General view

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Fans

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Pre-race atmosphere

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Cliff Daniels

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Joe Gibbs

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Ryan Preece, RFK Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Tribute to Kyle Busch

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

Michigan - Sunday, in photos

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.