Defending NTT IndyCar Series champ Alex Palou paced the opening test session ahead of this weekend’s $1 Million Challenge at the Thermal Motor Club.

The driver of the No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda lapped the California 3.067-mile road course in 1 minute 39.5149 seconds. The Spaniard was one of two CGR Hondas in the top three spots with sophomore Marcus Armstrong sliding into 3rd place.

Sandwiched between the Ganassi pair was the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry of Christian Lundgaard, who was .1825s off Palou’s time.

A duo of Arrow McLaren entries completed the top five led by Alexander Rossi in fourth and Pato O’Ward in fifth.

Rookie Linus Lundqvist was the next of the Ganassi contingent in sixth place followed by Felix Rosenqvist in seventh. The quickest Team Penske entry was Will Power in eighth.

Callum Illot, subbing for David Malukas, made it three McLarens in the top ten in ninth while Scott Dixon buoyed the Ganassi squad in 10th place.

A few drivers had some hairy moments but the session was not stopped. Santino Ferrucci, Graham Rahal and Christian Rassmussen went off track in Turn 2.

Rassmussen’s Ed Carpenter Racing teammate Rinus VeeKay also slide off the course in turn six in the final minutes.

Points leader Josef Newgarden was mired down the order in 20th place, only logging an installation lap at the session’s opening before making eight laps at the sessions end.