INDIANAPOLIS -- With one race remaining in the 2003 IndyCar season -- the Chevy 500 Oct. 12 at Texas Motor Speedway -- five drivers are still within striking distance of the series championship. The standings are the closest they have ever been heading into the final race of the season, with two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon tied for the lead with 467. Andretti Green Racing driver Tony Kanaan is third with 460, followed by two-time IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr. at 448 and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran at 437.

Here's a breakdown of the title contenters:

Helio Castroneves (tied for first, 467 points): Castroneves controls his own destiny in the points chase. If he wins the Chevy 500, he wins the championship. He can finish as low as 21st and still win, depending on where the other four drivers finish.

Scott Dixon (tied for first, 467 points): Dixon also controls his own destiny in the points chase. If he wins the Chevy 500, he wins the championship. He can finish as low as 21st and still win, depending on where the other four drivers finish.

Tony Kanaan (third-place, 460 points): Kanaan, like Castroneves and Dixon, controls his own destiny. If he wins the Chevy 500, he wins the championship. Kanaan can finish 14th and still win, depending on where the other four drivers finish.

Sam Hornish Jr. (fourth-place, 448 points): Realistically, Hornish needs to the win or finish extremely well in the Chevy 500, a race he has won the past two years, in order to have a chance at his third consecutive championship. Even if Hornish wins the race and leads the most laps, earning the two bonus points to get 52 total points, he still needs Castroneves and Dixon to finish no better than fourth and Kanaan to finish no better than second.

If Hornish wins and does not earn the two bonus points for leading the most laps, Castroneves, Dixon and Kanaan must finish outside of the top three. Hornish can finish in seventh and lead the most laps and still win, depending on where the other four drivers finish.

Gil de Ferran (fifth-place, 437 points): De Ferran needs to win or finish second in the Chevy 500 and needs a lot of help in order to win the IndyCar Series championship in his final season. If he wins, he needs Castroneves and Dixon to finish no better than 10th, Kanaan to finish no better than seventh and Hornish to finish no better than third. Mathematically, de Ferran can win if he finishes second, but should he finish third or worse, he will not win the championship.