It's likely to come down to the final straightaway on the final lap of the Indy Racing League's final race Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Sam Hornish Jr. takes a 12-point lead over Helio Castroneves into the Chevy 500 and both drivers know Texas' reputation for razor thin margins of victory means the championship string will run out to the very end.

But, for the drivers and crews that service those drivers, the chase is one that ties your stomach into knots.

"We know that we have the best driver," Panther Racing co-owner Gary Pedigo said. "We have the car and the crew. But in racing, luck plays such a big role that we are all a bit sick knowing that so much is out of our control."

Especially at Texas.

"The guys did a great last pit stop, and I was able to take the lead," Castroneves said of last June's race in Texas. "Unfortunately, fifth gear was too tall, which was my fault since I chose it, and there was nothing I could do to keep the lead."

By the time the checkered flag flew, the two-time Indy 500 winner was relegated to fourth.

While Castroneves has not tasted victory since his second win at Indianapolis, Castroneves and his Team Penske outfit have worked hard to stay in the hunt by posting consistent top-five finishes and executing quick pit stops.

"Yes, I understand we're battling for the championship," Castroneves said, "but so far I don't want to change anything because we're being consistent, and we just have to approach it the same way.

"If we do have the car to win, we'll go ahead and do it. But that's a matter, unfortunately, that's not in my control. Stuff happens (at Texas) outside of my control, and we'll just have to carry on in those situations. But for sure, when I close my visor, I will be more than set to race that day."

Hornish has not been in this situation before. When he captured last year's IRL title, he clinched the crown before heading to Texas and raced with little regard for points. When he won there it was his third win of the year.

This season, the Defiance, Ohio, native already has four wins and insists the points chase has little to do with his game plan.

"You're either going to win by a few inches or lose by a few inches," Hornish said. "The biggest thing about going out there on Sunday is I want to win the race. I'll just put all that emotion aside and do the best I can do, and if the cards come out that it's not meant to be for us to win again, I'll be a little bit disappointed.

"But Helio has done a great job this year and positioned himself well for the championship, just the same as I have, and that's what it takes. Sometimes it works your way, and some days it's not your day."

Where you do see the pressure is in the faces of each driver's crew. At Chicago, the jovial approach was left back at the shop. Both teams pitted in sight of each other and throughout the race, every crew member paced and fidgeted.

"I'm sure that when its all over, we will be able to sit back and relive it all with a lot less stress," said Kevin Blanch, Hornish's crew chief. "Right now, though it is one of the most emotional times I've ever experienced.

"The thing about it is that you don't sleep and can't stop think, 'What if?' Then, when its all over, win or lose, you go home and sleep for about a week."