Russian driver Aleshin joins Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in IndyCar

Published Nov. 23, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has signed Russian driver Mikhail Aleshin for its second IndyCar entry in 2014.

The 26-year-old Aleshin got his first seat time in an Indy car this week when he tested at Sebring International Raceway. He then put together a deal to be teammates next season with Simon Pagenaud.

Aleshin won the Formula Renault 3.5 Championship in 2010. He tested the Lotus Renault F1 car and Red Bull F1 car, and then set his sights on IndyCar.

Monday's test at Sebring was Aleshin's first trip to the United States.

He joins an SMP team that finished third in the IndyCar standings this season with Pagenaud. The Frenchman picked up two wins on the season.