Aleshin wants 2018 IndyCar to be radical

In 2016, Chevrolet beat Honda 14-2 in race wins, with much of the blame being assigned to HPD's aerokit, despite Honda being granted dispensation to make more changes to its aero package than Chevy after being outperformed the year before.

However, although he is racing for a Honda-powered team, Aleshin feels it was wise of IndyCar to freeze development of the aerokits for this season, stating the gradual confluence of their designs had rendered the manufacturer aerokits as an unnecessary expense.

He told Motorsport.com: “Personally, I think last year the Chevrolet and Honda were more similar to each other than they were in 2015, so why have them? But the other thing is that if IndyCar let the manufacturers change the aerokits again, it would affect our budget. We’d need to buy new parts again, and this is something no one wants because it would be for just one year again – the teams are all going to have to buy new kits in 2018 anyway.

“So I think for 2017, this was the right decision.”

However, Aleshin also stated he wanted IndyCar to be brave with the configuration of next year’s universal aerokit “to increase the difficulty of driving and improve the racing.”

He said: “Everyone having the same aerokit in 2018 is something I like, definitely. But I just hope the new 2018 aerokit will see them take off the downforce and give us more horsepower.

“That’s what we need. Something like what was here in IndyCar 20 years ago. Less downforce on top of the car’s body is going to help a race have more overtakes, and make the racing better, for us drivers and for the fans.”

Aleshin admitted that he had been shocked by the development of the DW12 to IR15 spec when, after almost a year’s enforced sabbatical, he returned for the 2015 series finale. He nonetheless outqualified SPM teammates Ryan Briscoe and James Jakes.

He said: “The problem was that before I came back at Sonoma, I was only racing an LMP2 car and that is a completely different story. So yes, I was definitely shocked by that downforce. I had no testing at all – straight into practice and qualifying. So honestly, I think [being quickest SPM driver] helped me to keep the ride for 2016.

“Now I’m going to have two years in a row and this will really help because it’s very difficult to get back in a rhythm if you miss a year, because IndyCars are so different to any other racecar – difficult to drive, very challenging, and that’s why it is so great. But you need to be here, year by year by year to have good results.

“If you just look at all the top drivers at the moment, look also at how long it took them to get there. They have all been racing in the U.S. for a long time, through Champ Car, or IRL, or American Le Mans Series, and now IndyCar.

“So that is why I know I need to go step by step – you cannot overjump yourself. Go step by step, and everything will be fine.”