The track conditions may have changed, but the result did not: Max Taylor and Andretti Global still are on top at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg after two practice sessions.

Taylor led for the second consecutive practice at the season-opening event for INDY NXT by Firestone despite damp track conditions from overnight rain, out front at 1 minute, 6.4309 seconds in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen machine. His leading time Friday was 1:05.0852 when the 14-turn, 1.8-mile temporary street circuit was dry.

SEE: Practice 2 Results

“A bit of different morning here in St. Pete,” Taylor said. “Rained overnight, so it made the track pretty wet to start off with, and then it dried during the session. We just waited until the end to go out, just not to risk anything.

“I knew putting in a good lap time was important to get fastest in this, and we can get through to qualifying. We did that. Let’s keep on going.”

Up next is qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET today. Live coverage will be provided by FS2. FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls. The 45-lap race starts at 10 a.m. ET Sunday (FS1, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls).

Andretti Global took the top three spots Friday in the opening practice and kept the top two spots in this 40-minute session. Lochie Hughes recovered from wall contact Friday to climb to second at 1:06.4841 in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry.

Polish rookie Tymek Kucharczyk, who turned 20 yesterday, gave himself a present by ending up third at 1:06.7528 in the No. 71 HMD Motorsports car. Alessandro de Tullio was fourth at 1:06.7933 in the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing car as that fabled team returns this season to the INDYCAR development series.

JM Correa rounded out the top five at 1:06.7970 in the No. 68 Cusick Morgan Motorsports entry, a strong debut for this team’s first year in the series.

There was one red flag for light contact. Brazilian rookie Nicholas Monteiro clipped a wheel on his No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing machine in Turn 1 approximately 17 minutes into the session. He was able to drive the car to the pits for repairs.