Scott McLaughlin has a score to settle with Texas Motor Speedway, and he made a powerful start toward reaching that goal Saturday morning. McLaughlin led the opening practice for the PPG 375 on the 1.5-mile oval, turning a top lap of 223.747 mph in the No. Simon Pagenaud led the first practice last year at Texas at 223.087, as McLaughlin was nearly seven-tenths of a mph faster today in deluxe conditions. McLaughlin finished second at this race last year despite leading 186 of 248 laps, as Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden passed him exiting the final turn of the race for victory. Pato O’Ward was second in practice today with a top speed of 223.518 in the No. Devlin DeFrancesco was the second Andretti Autosport driver in the top five, fifth at 223.225 in the No. The top five drivers today all were faster than Pagenaud’s top speed to lead the opening practice last year, another indicator of the peak conditions. “It’s the same for everyone, and it’s just a car,” McLaughlin said.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•