Pruett best in Target practice.

Watkins Glen 'Weekend Warrior' justified Chip Ganassi's faith in hiring him to replace Jimmy Spencer for the Sirius Satellite at the Glen this weekend when he led the opening practice session at the 2.45-mile road course.

Scott Pruett may not have adapted that well to the oval side of NASCAR Winston Cup racing but he showed that when it came to road course racing he could cut it with anyone as he led the opening practice session on Friday at the Watkins Glen International Raceway.

The former CART star drove his #41 Target Dodge around the 2.45-mile road course in a best time of 71.661-seconds as no less than three former open-wheel racers led the 47 car field on Friday morning. Pruett had been hired by team boss Chip Ganassi to replace Jimmy Spencer this weekend in order to gain maximum owner points for Ganassi's #41 team. Spencer, who hates road racing, was given the #42 Target Dodge for the weekend but was only 45th fastest.

Behind Pruett, with a best lap of 71.686-seconds, was former CART rival Robby Gordon, desperate for his first win of the season for the resurgent RCR squad. Last year Gordon watched a golden victory opportunity slip away when some TV equipment stored on his #31 RCR Chevrolet caught fire and put him out.

Another driver needing a good result to get things off his mind was third fastest Tony Stewart, keeping an understandably low profile after his post Brickyard 400 shenanigans.

Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five ahead of road course ace Mark Martin, current man-of-the-moment Bill Elliott and multiple road course winner Jeff Gordon.

Sears Point winner Ricky Rudd was 12th fastest while Jerry Nadeau, who came so close to winning at the California road course earlier this year, was only 33rd fastest.

Of the incoming road racers, PJ Jones was 19th fastest in the #14 AJ Foyt Racing Pontiac, Boris Said 23rd in the second Jasper Racing entry, Joe Varde 33rd for BACE Motorsports, Shane Lewis 40th in the Edgar Otto owned Ford, Tom Hubert 44th in the #23 Hills Bros. Dodge normally pedalled by Hut Stricklin, Austin Cameron 46th and British driver Justin Bell 47th, some ten mph off the pace of the leaders.

Current points leader Sterling Marlin had an engine let go during practice and set 29th fastest time. He will have to start from the rear of the 43-car grid on Sunday but will still make a qualifying attempt in an effort to get a good pit stall.