Josef Newgarden continued Saturday to show why World Wide Technology Raceway might be his ultimate playground in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Newgarden led the rain-delayed opening practice for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline with a top lap of 178.243 mph in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. Two-time series champion Newgarden has five career victories in nine starts on the 1.25-mile oval just east of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois.

SEE: Practice Results

“So far, so good,” Newgarden said. “I think we’ll have a tight battle with a lot of people. It’s hard to win these days with how good the competition is. We’re working hard for it. Let’s get through qualifying first and see how the car is tomorrow night.”

Up next today is NTT P1 Award qualifying at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by high-line practice in two groups from 8:15-8:35 p.m. ET, followed by final practice starting from 8:50-9:35 p.m. ET. Both sessions will be broadcast live on FS2, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

8:15-8:35 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES High-Line Practice (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network)

8:50-9:35 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network)

The 260-lap race starts at 8 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Team Penske, which has nine INDYCAR SERIES victories at this track, took the top two spots in the 60-minute session, which started 2.5 hours late due to morning showers. Scott McLaughlin, who has won the pole for the last two races at this track, was second at 178.149 in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet.

David Malukas continued his strong form at WWTR by ending up third at 177.856 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Two of Malukas’ three career top-three finishes have occurred at this egg-shaped track on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

Championship leader Alex Palou was fourth at 177.516 in the No. 10 Ridgeline Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou leads second-place Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren by 90 points after winning five of the first seven races of the season.

O’Ward rounded out the top five at 177.492 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.