Mercedes DTM racer Robert Wickens has been drafted in to replace Schmidt Peterson's Mikhail Aleshin for Friday's practice sessions at Road America following visa issues for the Russian.
Aleshin is currently stuck in France after competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the SMP Racing LMP2 team. Due to immigration problems, he has been prevented from travelling back to the United States and will miss Friday's track activity.
The team is hopeful that the problem will be resolved swiftly and Aleshin can travel back on Friday in order to take up his seat for the remainder of the race weekend.
"Since competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with SMP Racing last weekend, Mikhail Aleshin, driver of the No. 7 Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda in the Verizon IndyCar Series, has been unable to leave France due to immigration issues preventing him from returning to the United States," Aleshin's team said in a statement.
"The executive team at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has been working diligently on Aleshin’s return to America to compete in this weekend’s KOHLER Grand Prix. However, at this time, the Russian driver will not arrive to Road America in time for any on-track sessions scheduled for Friday, June 23.
"The team have elected for Canadian Robert Wickens to pilot the No. 7 car until the immigration issue is resolved.
"No further comments about Aleshin’s immigration status will be given at this time. The team will send further communication when an update is available."
Wickens has limited IndyCar experience having tested for the same team back in February as part of a 'car swap' with fellow Canadian James Hinchcliffe.
