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IndyCar: Sebastian Saavedra to replace Mikhail Aleshin at Pocono and Gateway

By Asher Fair

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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Schmidt Peterson Motorsports recently announced that they have parted ways with IndyCar driver Mikhail Aleshin. Sebastian Saavedra will replace him in the two remaining oval races.

With four races to go in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports decided that it was time to part ways with the struggling Mikhail Aleshin. They have now announced that 27-year-old Colombian driver Sebastian Saavedra will be his replacement in the two remaining oval races this season.

Saavedra is set to take over the seat of Aleshin’s #7 Honda in the races at Pocono and Gateway. This comes as no surprise seeing as how it was Saavedra who drove from 20th place to 11th at Toronto as Aleshin’s substitute when Schmidt Peterson Motorsports essentially benched him after several poor performances and crashes.

It is still unknown as to who will drive the #7 Honda in the two remaining road course races this season at Watkins Glen and Sonoma, but all signs point to Robert Wickens. When Aleshin had visa issues getting back into the United States from France before the Road America race, Wickens took over his seat for two practice sessions and would have driven in the race had Aleshin not been able to return in time.

Here is what Saavedra had to say about being back in the #7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda for two more races this season.

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"“I am very excited to be back with the SPM organization. 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 support (James) Hinchcliffe in his pursuit of championship points. I’m thankful to my sponsors and my continued relationship with AFS Inc.”"

Saavedra also drove in this season’s Indianapolis 500 for Juncos Racing and finished in 15th place after starting way back in 31st. In 63 career IndyCar races dating back to 2010, he has finished in the top 10 four times, all since 2013, with his career-high finish of 8th place coming back at Baltimore in the 2013 season.

Next: Top 5 replacement candidates for Mikhail Aleshin

Do you think Sebastian Saavedra was the right choice to replace Mikhail Aleshin in the two remaining oval races? Who do you think will replace him in the two remaining road course races? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter. Finally, don’t forget to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it.