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IndyCar teams making quick changes to cars

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Helio Castroneves and most other IndyCar drivers know their crews have the toughest job in Indianapolis.

No, they’re not racing in front of tens of thousands of fans this weekend or feeling the pressure of trying to win the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

All they have to do is compete in the toughest race nobody will see — converting cars designed to run on road courses into viable challengers on ovals literally overnight.

“I think it will take about 12 to 16 hours,” said Castroneves, a three-time Indy 500 champion who expects the transition to go relatively smoothly. “This part is up to the professionals and I have no doubt they are going to get that done.”

There’s no choice this weekend.

When track officials decided last fall to add a road race to Indy’s May schedule, drivers raved, traditionalists complained and crew members cringed.

Since then, teams have been trying to devise vastly different game plans to cope with the switchover.

Roger Penske’s team, which is based in North Carolina, will scramble to have their three cars ready when Indianapolis 500 practice opens Sunday at noon.

Other teams, like Andretti Autosport, will take a different tack. Michael Andretti will bring in four different cars from his Indianapolis-based shop to replace the road-course cars, leaving the crew with a much more manageable task of converting only one car — the No. 26 Honda that Kurt Busch will be driving as he attempts “the double.”

“It’s easy because we have our oval cars already set up,” Andretti said.

Series and track officials created this challenge for one reason: They knew May would be the best opportunity to showcase the versatility of drivers who compete on ovals, road and street courses, and the cars that are built to withstand each of the different disciplines.

There will be other strange sights this weekend, too.

Track workers will scurry to convert the track from the newly configured road course to the traditional 2.5-mile in less than 24 hours, something they did flawlessly last summer when sports cars made their debut on Indy’s old road course during Brickyard 400 weekend. Defending Indy 500 champ Tony Kanaan, who moved from KV Racing Technology to Target Chip Ganassi during the offseason, also noted the oddity of seeing tire marks going the opposite direction when they pull out of the pits Sunday.

But Kanaan has a simple solution for what could be a tough weekend.

“I think of it like we used to run Brazil right before Indy, so let’s just pretend this (road) race is Brazil and then treat the 500 like the 500,” Kanaan said.

The difference, of course, is that there was more time between Brazil and Indy, making things a little easier on everyone involved in the IndyCar Series.

On Saturday night, it will be a more like a major late-night cram session for most IndyCar crews.

“I think most teams have the nucleus to change it over that fast,” Ganassi’s managing director Mike Hull said. “We think it will take us about 16 to 24 total man hours, of everybody pitching in.

“I don’t know that being ready at noon (Sunday) is that important because we’ve got six hours of practice every day, and if you can’t get it done in 36 hours, you probably should pack up your truck and head back on I-65.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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