Mikhail Aleshin — SMP Racing pilot — showed excellent results during the second set of IndyCar pre-season tests behind the wheel of his new team Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car. He was first among pilots from 7 teams at Sebring Raceway (Florida).
During the two-day sessions Mikhail Aleshin managed to test different variants of car adjustments. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team provided him with a 2013-year car so that Mikhail could get comfortable with an IndyCar race car. Behind its wheel, Aleshin managed to show the best results among all drivers participating in the tests — he was first by the end of the first day and in the morning of the second day. Summarising the results of the conducted tests the team noted that Mikhail Aleshin had successfully carried out the targeted programme and achieved even more than it had been planned. Next pre-season IndyCar sessions will take place in February, 2014.
Mikhail Aleshin, SMP Racing pilot: “Looking back at the results of the second sessions I can say that they were successful. There is no official timing here but laps time is recorded by our motorist Honda. According to their data, we were always in top three throughout the whole period of tests. To be more specific, I was first during the first day and in the first part of the second day. I was driving a car with an old engine like I did during the previous sessions. We did not have any technical problems, were able to complete the whole programme and did even more: we tried out some of the innovations we will be using next season and achieved great progress in car adjusting. We were constantly sharing information with my team-mate Simon Pagenaud, tried different car adjustments to find out which fitted better. These tests advanced me a lot especially in terms of better understanding of an IndyCar car”.
Sergey Zlobin, SMP Racing sports director: “We are sure about Mikhail’s skills and assume that we had chosen the right team — Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. IndyCar, 24 hours of Le Mans and Formula 1 are the top competitions in the world of motor sport. Mikhail was honoured to defend the Russian flag in the overseas series and I think he would be able to fulfil this task with dignity together with all SMP Racing pilots who will be competing for the World and Europe championship titles”.
About IndyCar Series
IndyCar series, or IndyCar, is one of the most prestigious motorsport “formula” series in the USA and the whole world. The competitions are held on open-wheel cars, which is how they call “formula” cars in the US. In 2014 new regulations come into force, which require car engine upgrading. Among other things, 2.2-litre V6 direct-injected twin-turbocharged engines will be used next season. Engines of such type will be supplied by Chevrolet and Honda only.
IndyCar championship was founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George in 1996. Up to 2002 the series was called IRL and starting from 2003 it was renamed to IndyCar Series. Around 40 racing drivers take part in the championship, including a few of the world’s most famous pilots: four-time Champ Car champion Sébastien Bourdais; three-time IRL champion and “Indy 500” winner Scott Dixon; three-time “Indy 500” winner Hélio Castroneves and other outstanding sportsmen. IndyCar races are held on motor racing tracks situated in ten different states and Ontario in Canada. Tracks have circular layouts, including ovals which are typical for US.
