Aleshin to test with SPM in advance of series return

By Dave Lewandowski

Published: Aug 5, 2015

Mikhail Aleshin, who sustained injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash for the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season finale, will get behind the wheel of a Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car again Aug. 13 at Sonoma Raceway.

The refresher test will be in advance of the Aug. 30 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at the 2.385-mile, 12-turn road course. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has filed an entry form with INDYCAR for Aleshin to drive in the season finale.

“I am incredibly happy to make my return to this entertaining championship and my team, with which I raced last year and achieved considerable success,” said Aleshin, who posted a best start and finish of second at Houston 2 in 17 races.

“This year, my priority is my (World Endurance Challenge) campaign and the continuous development of the BR01. As for next year, we're doing all we can to continue in IndyCar and I hope this race can be a significant step towards that goal.”

Team co-owner Sam Schmidt said Aleshin “feels like he has some unfinished business” in the Verizon IndyCar Series. They had remained in contact since last year.

“He was very quick last year and didn’t want things to end the way Fontana did,” Schmidt said. “Sonoma, being the last race, is obviously an important one. If he does well, maybe we’ll see him back here next year.

“We’ve been talking all year. At first, it was an effort to try to make the ‘500’ as a third car. That didn’t happen because of a conflict with his racing schedule in Europe. Now he’s wide open so we’ll see what happens.”

Aleshin, 28, of Moscow, competed in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2013 and 2012, along with driving in the GP2 Series in 2011 with Carlin before moving to the States.

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