When a K0 clutch 34 is interrupted to stop a direct injection engine 12 during vehicle running, if a stop position of a crankshaft 114 is out of a range of a target stop range φtarget, the once interrupted K0 clutch 34 is temporarily frictionally engaged to slightly rotate the crankshaft 114. As a result, the crankshaft 114 stopped near compression TDC (top dead center) is rotated to and stopped in a minimum region of pumping energy in combination with a pumping action. Since the minimum region of the pumping energy overlaps with the target stop range φtarget suitable for ignition start associated with a small assist torque at the time of engine start, the ignition start can properly be performed at the next engine start and the assist torque at the time of engine start can be reduced.