News

The penultimate round of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge brought Taylor Hagler to the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Behind the wheel of the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR, Hagler made a furious comeback from an early morning engine failure to finish fourth in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120. 

Saturday began in dramatic fashion for Hagler. During the early morning qualifying session, Hagler was forced to pull the No. 77 Hyundai into the grass while smoke billowed from underneath the body. The BHA squad went to diagnose the TCR entry to find that the engine had given out. A mad dash to replace the engine ensued. The replacement took just over four hours with the No. 77 making the grid with minutes spare. Hagler took the green flag from the back of the field in 13th. 

Hagler was quick to make up positions on track as she reached the end of the front straight, she had gained seven positions to run sixth before reaching the first turn. It wasn’t long until the first full course caution appeared with the field slowing before the first lap was completed. There would be two full course cautions completed before the first 10-minutes had elapsed from the race clock. 

Hagler continued positive movement up the running order to sit just outside of the top three in fourth by lap nine before making the pass for third during the third green flag restart. She remained in the top three of the running through the remainder of her 59-minute stint before coming to pit lane under yellow flag conditions. Morris took over the No. 77 Hyundai with four fresh Michelin tires and a tank of fuel before returning to the course in fifth. 

Morris pushed through GS and TCR traffic to find second place with the race clock counting down. The steady progress was halted as the No. 77 Hyundai needed to come to pit lane with 26-minutes remaining for four new tires and fuel to make it to the end. Morris exited pit lane in sixth before he, again, pushed through traffic to gain two spots. He crossed the finish line in fourth. 

Taylor Hagler, No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR: “Our day didn’t start out as planned, but we were able to rebound to finish the day with a solid fourth place finish. A big thank you to the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport team for their quick work to replace the engine and get us on the grid in time to race. The start was one of those moments you love as a racing driver – finding the lane that is open and pushing the car before the first turn. We will finish out the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the same mentality of pushing as hard as we can.”