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Sebastian Saavedra replaces Mikhail Aleshin for IndyCar’s next two races

By Brittany Frederick

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Sebastian Saavedra, driver of the #17 AFS Chevrolet, races during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Sebastian Saavedra, driver of the #17 AFS Chevrolet, races during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Sebastian Saavedra will drive the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car vacated by Mikhail Aleshin for IndyCar’s upcoming races at Pocono and Gateway.

Mikhail Aleshin’s seat in IndyCar will be filled by Sebastian Saavedra, at least for now. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports confirmed Saavedra’s hiring on Wednesday but only for two of the four remaining races in the 2017 IndyCar season.

Saavedra will run in Sunday’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway and also drive the No. 7 SPM Honda the following weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park.

The Colombian driver originally replaced Mikhail Aleshin as a one-off driver at the Honda Indy Toronto after Aleshin was benched for struggling on-track performance that included multiple crashes.

Though Aleshin returned for the most recent IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio, his work didn’t improve and the Russian driver announced earlier this week that he and Schmidt Peterson were mutually parting ways.

Mikhail Aleshin is now focusing his efforts on the sportscar program for Russia’s SMP Racing, which was his primary sponsor in IndyCar.

So with just days to find a replacement, in stepped the already familiar Saavedra, who’ll be making his 64th career Verizon IndyCar Series start at Pocono.

“I am very excited to be back with the SPM organization,” Saavedra said in Wednesday’s press release. “It’s another late call to jump in, but I take it with pride after a promising start of our relationship in Toronto.

“Looking forward to a challenging event as the Tricky Triangle can be, and [to] support [James] Hinchcliffe in his pursuit of championship points. I’m thankful to my sponsors and my continued relationship with AFS Inc.”

But Saavedra will have a spotlight on him as well. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports hasn’t said who Mikhail Aleshin’s replacement will be for the other two races left in the IndyCar season at Watkins Glen and Sonoma.

With the team keeping its options open, Saavedra will no doubt be striving to deliver a very good performance to drive himself into those two additional races, as well as consideration to become the permanent replacement for Mikhail Aleshin in the 2018 IndyCar season.

Next: Juan Pablo Montoya joins Team Penske IMSA program

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