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Being quickest Honda is not enough, says Aleshin

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Mikhail Aleshin says he's back in IndyCar to win races, and that being fastest Honda at any given circuit is not going to be enough for him.

Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda

Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda

IndyCar Series

Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda

Aleshin, who scored a podium and showed flashes of strong pace throughout his rookie season in 2014, but raced in European Le Mans Series last year, said his return to IndyCar would not be satisfying until there was more reward for his efforts.

“Aleshin not satisfied with being quickest Honda,” he said, “that’s obvious. But you always want more. And I want to win races – that is why I’m here.”

Aleshin was third quickest in final practice, but struggled with his setup on the red tires in qualifying, and started down in 18th. Teammate James Hinchcliffe was top Honda qualifier (seventh) and finished eighth on race day, but Aleshin remained buried in the pack as the lack of caution flags meant there was no room for alternate strategies.

The Russian driver said that although he’s impressed by the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team, the speed shown by himself and Hinchcliffe in Long Beach is not yet satisfying him.

After the Long Beach race, he commented: "The No. 7 SMP Racing car was one of the fastest cars on the track but… there were no yellow flags, so that's life.

“The good news is that we know we had a good pace and we were faster than most of the cars, so... Next time."

Honda drivers "on edge"

Aleshin finished fifth in the season-opener at St. Petersburg but struggled like all HPD-powered drivers at Phoenix earlier this month.

He told Motorsport.com: “The team is doing an amazing job, and Honda is definitely more competitive [relative to Chevrolet] on the street courses. At Phoenix, we had no chance to compete with Chevys, but in Long Beach we’re up there with them.”

However, he said he felt Chevrolet drivers – in particular Penske-Chevy drivers – were finding it easier to produce their ultimate speed.

“We know where the difference is,” he said, although he did not wish to specify. “I’d say we are right on the edge to make our best lap times. I am right on the edge. It’s the only way for us.”

Aleshin said his late signing with SPM had hindered him in terms of lack of testing pre-season, but said he was reasonably optimistic for this weekend’s race at Barber Motorsports Park.

He said: “I need to work more on myself, because I signed late with the team and I missed all the tests. Not the best way to prepare for the season, but that is what we have.

“I’d think it’s hard to say how we will compare with the Chevy cars there. But I hope it will be more like at St. Pete and Long Beach, not Phoenix.”

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