TA: Freshman Festa puts lessons to one side.

Chris Festa differs from most new students in the way he spends his spare time.

While they will have their heads buried in text books, he will complete his classes in business and marketing at Florida State University before jumping on a plane to Montreal for the eleventh round of the Toyota Atlantic series this weekend.

The Rahal Letterman rookie has been granted athletic status at FSU, which helps give him priority status in the scheduling of his classes and access to academic tutors who can assist when he is forced to miss class because of a race or test.

"It has been a great first week of school, but I still have this weekend's race on my mind," he said. "With my class schedule I have time during the day where I can prepare for the race by reviewing notes and watching tapes of races at Montreal. It isn't like high school where the day was filled with classes and there wasn't a break. My professors have been really good about me missing class the first week. It certainly helps to have access to the athletic tutors."

Festa heads to Canada this weekend eighth in the standings points and third in the Toyota Atlantic Rookie of the Year battle.

He is looking to follow the lead of teammate Danica Patrick by ending the season strongly and then carrying the momentum on to next season.

"The series has been even more competitive than I thought it would be," he said. "The only way you improve as a driver is to run against a high level of competition and there is no doubt I have learned a lot this season. What we need to do now is finish strong and build momentum for next year. Danica finished last season with a pair of really strong results and that momentum carried over to this year. I am looking to do the same."

Festa added the Florida State Seminole to his helmet at Denver and will race with the FSU logo on the front of his helmet the rest of the season.