After months of uncertainty, the SMP Racing program has confirmed that Mikhail Aleshin will return for a third season in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsport-Honda. Aleshin's IndyCar career was put on temporary hold in 2015 due to U.S. sanctions against certain Russian companies, and although he returned for a full season in 2016, America's continuing sanctions were thought to be a major stumbling block in his SMP funding for 2017. However, Wednesday's announcement confirms Aleshin as James Hinchcliffe's teammate this season. It's understood that the former Formula Renault 3.5 champion will also help test Dallara's LMP1 car on the simulator at its Indianapolis...
Full Story »