Mikhail Aleshin's breakthrough IndyCar pole at Pocono on Saturday followed a maiden win being lost in the previous round at Mid-Ohio, and underlined the Russian's rise in the Verizon IndyCar Series. The Schmidt Peterson driver had been on course for Mid-Ohio victory before a pitlane collision with Josef Newgarden, his Pocono front row partner. Aleshin was dejected after Mid-Ohio but topped first practice and qualifying at Pocono. He had moments at Turn 1, where three drivers crashed in morning practice, on both qualifying laps but "just decided I was going to keep it flat." The Russian joked about his stern-faced reaction to pole afterward. "It's obviously very difficult to...
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