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Double points, double pressure at Indy 500

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indy 500 has always been the most important race on the schedule, the only one where a driver can reach transcendent status simply by being the first to cross the yard of bricks.

Now, it’s even more important.

A revamped structure this season awards double the points on the ovals at Indianapolis, Pocono and Fontana, along with points for qualifying. And many drivers now believe the season-long championship will be won or lost on those three tracks, beginning with Sunday’s Indy 500.

“They kind of sold it as it didn’t really change the championship much, but I think it’s got the potential to,” said Scott Dixon, who is fifth in the standings.

“It’s like giving points for qualifying,” Dixon said. “The thing I was questioning was every year, we come down to the last race of the championship. Why change something that works and many other series around the world would dream of being able to promote that?”

To illustrate the importance of this week, consider that Will Power arrived in Indy with a series-leading 149 points from the first four road races. If he would have qualified fastest, earned the pole, led the most laps and ultimately won the race, he would have piled up 145 points.

As it stands, those who struggled in qualifying have already taken a hit.

“You have one bad day or two bad days here during the month and it can turn you upside down in the points,” said Ryan Hunter-Reay, who will start 19th in the 33-car field. “The 500-mile races will have a huge, huge implication for the championship.”

Then again, wasn’t the Indy 500 already important enough?

“The last thing we’re all thinking about right now is points,” Graham Rahal said. “Not to devalue the championship, but everybody in this series would rather win this thing.”

So, turning the attention back to the Indy 500, here are five things making news Thursday:

CARB DAY: Teams have put in two weeks of work, turned hundreds of laps and burned through dozens of sets of tires, yet Friday’s final practice remains crucial. “Not only is it the day closest to the race in terms of temperature,” Oriol Servia said, “but it’s the day you are going to make the final decisions on setup. No matter how much you run, on Carb Day, you’re going to make the final decisions, and whoever makes the right decisions shows who has a good race or not.”

PROM KING: Sage Karam got to trade his race helmet for a crown. The Indy 500 rookie attended prom with his girlfriend, Anna de Ferran, though the locale was a bit of a switch from a high school gym or hotel ballroom: The couple danced away to John Legend’s “All of Me” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old Indy Lights champion missed his prom at his Pennsylvania high school because it was the same night as Indy 500 practice. “It was the first time I ever slow danced,” Karam said. “It was kind of weird because there were news stations there videotaping me and stuff. But I think I killed it.” Karam graduates from Nazareth Area High School on June 10, and while he doesn’t have another IndyCar date lined up yet, he’s hoping something comes through for the July 6 race at his hometown track, Pocono Raceway.

HINCHCLIFFE’S MEMENTO: James Hinchcliffe plans to put the helmet he was wearing during a wreck in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in a prominent place on his mantle. First, it’s headed to Japan. The manufacturer, Aria Helmet, wants to examine how it performed during the May 10 wreck that left Hinchcliffe with a concussion. “It’ll eventually be returned and end up in the trophy case,” said Hinchcliffe, who has been cleared to start in the Indy 500.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: Verizon is making technology trendy. The IndyCar series title sponsor demonstrated at the track 3-D holographic technology, an IndyCar that simulates how it feels to actually drive around a track and a new tool teams will be able to use during Sunday’s race: four different camera angles for every driver. Company officials said the technology will soon be available to fans. “So it’s another tool to say that we’re lying when we say it’s flat or something,” Chip Ganassi driver Charlie Kimball joked.

HONDA VS. CHEVROLET: Engine manufacturer Chevrolet dominated practice a year ago, only for Honda to rally on Carburation Day. This year, it’s a virtual tossup between the rivals. “I think on the street courses we’ve shown we have the edge,” said Hunter-Reay, whose Andretti Autosport team runs Honda engines. “Verdicts out on the ovals, though. I’m not really sure yet.”

___

AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.

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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