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Castroneves takes another shot at 4th Indy 500 win

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Helio Castroneves is back at his favorite track chasing history yet again.

After four years of answering constant questions about pursuing a historic fourth Indianapolis 500 win, the Brazilian is eager to end all the talk.

“You’ve got to dream big, you can’t get frustrated,” Castroneves said. “We (Team Penske) do talk about it, probably more than anybody.”

Few drivers in Sunday’s race know this track better than Castroneves.

He won here as a rookie in 2001, became the first back-to-back champion since Al Unser in 1970 and 1971, and after winning the pole in 2003, wound up settling for second to teammate Gil de Ferran. He won again in 2009, becoming the first foreign-born, three-time winner, and now sits one win away from joining Indy royalty — A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears, Penske’s driving coach — as the only four-time winners.

Castroneves hasn’t just dominated race day. He won the pole again in 2007, 2009 and 2010, becoming the first back-to-back pole winner since Mears in 1988 and 1989. His four pole wins are tied for the second-most ever, trailing only Mears’ six, and Castroneves has become a fixture in the relatively new pole shootout, too.

Those who have driven with and against him understand why he’s been so good on the Indy track.

“He’s just got a great mindset for this circuit,” said Chip Ganassi driver Ryan Briscoe, who won the pole in 2012 as Castroneves’ teammate. “He’s got very smooth hands, he’s very well mentally prepared and he thrives around here when it’s windy. It’s no fluke he’s won it three times.”

Lately, though, things have been a little tougher.

He has finished ninth, 17th, 10th and sixth in last four races here, leading a total of just four laps on race day. Castroneves hasn’t even started on the front row since 2010. On Sunday, he’ll start fourth, the inside of Row 2, after posting a four-lap qualifying average of 230.649 mph — the seventh fastest on the traditional 33-car starting grid.

Briscoe thinks the reason for that has more to do with the competition than with anything Castroneves has or hasn’t done on the track.

“I can tell you that the last three years, we’ve never had a field so close and so competitive,” Briscoe said. “Back in the day, it had a little more to do with who you were driving for, Penske, Ganassi, whoever. It’s so close now, you’ve got to make sure you’re in the top 10 at the end of the race.”

A year ago, Castroneves and Scotland’s Dario Franchitti were both trying to join one of racing’s most prestigious clubs. But Franchitti was forced to retire after he sustained a severe concussion in a frightening crash last October.

There are plenty of other differences this year, too.

Castroneves sounds more relaxed and more confident. He says he’s more motivated, too, driving the No. 3 Pennzoil car that carries the same paint scheme and design Mears made famous during his career with Penske. Castroneves also will be hearing the voices of Roger Penske, the winningest team owner in Indy history with 15, and Mears on his headset Sunday — the first time Castroneves will have both on his radio team at Indy, an experience he plans to enjoy.

“He (Mears) is a wise man,” Castroneves said. “He’s an experienced person, and I think over the years, he’s learned how to understand me. It’s more about what we can do with my experience and his knowledge.”

Mears also understands what it’s like to cope with the pressure of trying to win four.

He got there faster than any of three four-time winners, capturing wins in 1979, 1984, 1988 and 1981. Unser needed 17 years. Foyt took 26. A win Sunday would make Castroneves the second fastest, achieving the feat in 13 years, and give him the distinction of being the first non-American in the four-time winners circle.

And after four years of missing out, Castroneves has no intention of playing down the significance of fulfilling this rare quest.

“I imagine it, I dream about it, but I don’t think about what it would be like,” Castroneves said. “But I hope I can tell you after Sunday.”

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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