2023 has not been the season for Chase Elliott. The No. 9 Chevy kicked off the year on the wrong foot, was benched for six races with a tibia injury, and was then hit with a one-race suspension. So, seven races slipped through his fingers before he even had a shot at the winner’s circle. On occasion, his wheels fell off, literally—be it a blown tire or some other hiccup.

But, at the Indianapolis road course, when all the stars seemed to align, he still missed the mark by a whisker, trailing Michael McDowell by a mere 0.937 seconds. Word on the street? Some NASCAR pundits reckon Lady Luck just isn’t riding shotgun with Elliott this year.

NASCAR pundits believe Chase Elliott pulled out all the stops but still couldn’t grab the victory cup

Earlier on, whispers in the NASCAR community suggested Elliott and HMS were off the pace and lacked the moxie to clinch a victory post-injury. However, the Indianapolis race painted a different picture. Even when the going got tough, especially after a nudge from Suarez, Elliott bounced back like a champ. Regardless, NASCAR’s golden boy had to settle for silver.

While many armchair experts reckon he dragged his heels during the crucial last laps, Jeff Burton begs to differ. He weighed in, saying, “Chase Elliott; he was in position, and if given the right track position, he could have won the race. He had enough speed to win it. At times or other times, he wasn’t as good as he needed to be, but if that #9 gets out there in the lead the way McDowell had, I am not sure that he couldn’t win the race.”

Yet Elliott himself doesn’t chalk it up to fate. Reflecting on the race, he hinted at room for improvement in his post-race tête-à-tête.

Watch This Story: Chase Elliott Calls Out Hendrick Motorsports Revealing What Lost Him the Race

“Needed to be a little better,” Elliott reflects after trailing McDowell in Indianapolis

While NASCAR aficionados chalk up Chase Elliott’s close shave with victory to mere bad luck, a report from motorsports.com hints at Elliott seeing things from a different angle. He reckons there were moments where he could’ve put the pedal to the metal and seized the day.

“Just needed to be a little better through the back half over there and get off of Turn 14 a little better just to have myself in a better spot getting into Turn 1,” Elliott mused. Besides that, he was all praise for the team effort, lauding, “Just really appreciate the effort, man. Our car was really good, really good.

Also, he didn’t shy away from admitting a slip-up in the final pit cycle, acknowledging he may have dropped the ball in navigating the (lapped) traffic, even as he tried to play the long game.

Now, the spotlight shifts to Watkins Glen. With Elliott’s stellar record there, boasting 2 victories and 4 top-5 finishes in just 6 races, one can’t help but wonder: Will he strike gold at Watkins Glen once more? What’s your take?

Read More: Chase Elliott Reveals the One Thing He Needed to Change His Disappointing Situation