The 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix started on a chaotic note, with Ross Chastain crashing into Chase Elliott out of Turn 1. A week after staying tight-lipped about the incident, Chastain has now spoken out about the chaos.
While Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace started the race from the front row, they were joined by three other cars heading into Turn 1. Going five-wide made the turn tricky, forcing each driver to be aggressive. However, Chastain’s aggression proved too much for Elliott.
Ross Chastain Opens Up on His Mistake at COTA
Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet, Chastain refused to address the issue for a week. However, just hours before the Shriners Children’s 500, the Trackhouse Racing driver finally took responsibility for his “error” at COTA.
Speaking to Bob Pockrass (via X), Chastain explained:
“When I went inside the five, I thought we were slow enough from the restart zone, and that was not the case. So, I get to take that. I get to live with that.”
He added, “It was an error” on his part.
Pockrass then asked the 32-year-old why he needed to be aggressive on the opening lap. Chastain replied that high risks yield high rewards, and this time, the gamble didn’t pay off. He understands that it was a bad move, but at the time, he felt in control of the situation.
Ross Chastain on his first-lap move at COTA: "That move was a bad move." pic.twitter.com/yPudIOnUlx
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2025
However, when he stepped on the brakes in the last third of the braking zone, the rear tires locked up, preventing Chastain from slowing down as much as he wanted.
Speaking to Fox Sports after the race, Elliott shared his take on the incident. Since he hadn’t seen what happened to Chastain, the Hendrick Motorsports driver didn’t want to comment directly. However, he was still frustrated after losing ground following his best start in a points race this season.
As a result, Elliott spent most of the race playing catch-up.
Despite the early setback, he put together a strong recovery drive. The HMS driver finished fourth on the 2.3-mile circuit, securing crucial points for himself and his team.
