Aleshin to take rookie oval test at Homestead

Mikhail Aleshin to test for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Mikhail Aleshin got a taste of racing on an oval during the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Russian IndyCar Series driver will see more as he participates in a rookie oval test Jan. 28 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"It will be very important for me because I never have tested on oval so I am looking forward to it," said Aleshin, who will make his series debut in the No. 55 SPM Racing car March 30 in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "We had some time working on this test with the team at the shop so I'm quite happy to say that the team has really helped me a lot to get all the details fast.

"Ovals will be something really special for me. I'm looking forward to the start of the season."

Aleshin co-drove a Ferrari 458 with Mika Salo, Boris Rotenberg and Sergey Zlobin at Daytona to a fourth place in the GT Daytona class.