Jack Harvey will pilot SPM No. 7 car at Watkins Glen, Sonoma

POCONO, Pa. -- IndyStar has learned that Jack Harvey will be behind the wheel of the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports No. 7 car for the final two races of the Verizon IndyCar Series calendar at Watkins Glen International and Sonoma Raceway.

Team owner Sam Schmidt confirmed the move Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Sebastian Saavaedra was tasked with taking over for Mikhail Aleshin and teaming up with James Hinchcliffe this weekend at Pocono Raceway and next weekend at Gateway. He then will cede cockpit of the No. 7 car to Harvey.

IndyCar fans last saw the Englishman at the Indianapolis 500, where he drove for Michael Shank Racing under the umbrella of Andretti Autosport. Harvey qualified in the ninth row and completed 65 laps before crashing in Turn 3.

That was his only race in an Indy car.

Harvey drove for SPM’s Indy Lights team in 2014 and '15. He finished runner-up in the championship both years after winning a total of six races, four poles and racking up 18 podiums.

Harvey should feel comfortable at the season finale in Sonoma, where he earned two Lights wins. He also tested for SPM there in 2015.

Harvey will be the fourth different driver to pilot the No. 7 car this season. Aleshin drove it for 12 races, Saavedra for two, and Robert Wickens drove in practice ahead of the race at Road America while Aleshin was stuck in Europe dealing with visa issues.

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello.

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