FORT WORTH, Texas -- It's hard to imagine a more dramatic finish to a championship than last year's Indy Racing League finale when Sam Hornish Jr. beat Helio Castroneves for the race win and title on the final lap at Texas Motor Speedway.

But Sunday's Chevy 500 promises to be just as intriguing since it's a lot more crowded at the top.

Scott Dixon and Castroneves are tied for first in the standings, with Tony Kanaan seven points behind, Hornish 19 away from his third consecutive crown and Gil de Ferran 30 points in arrears.

Five drivers, 200 laps around the 1.5-mile oval and several scenarios to decide the 2003 IRL champ.

"If anybody misses this race, they're going to miss a helluva show," predicted Castroneves, who wound up 20 points and .0096 of a second behind Hornish at the checkered flag in 2002. "Sam and I battled for the title to the end and it was great.

"But I'd like to see it come out a little different this time."

Unlike a year ago, when Hornish needed only to finish in the top three, Castroneves controls his destiny this time -- as do Dixon and Kanaan.

A victory for either the two-time Indy winner, 23-year-old Kiwi or 28-year-old Brazilian earns them No. 1.

"We've put ourselves in a position to win this thing and it all comes down to the last race so now we just have to go out and do it," said Dixon, whose three wins and four seconds in the Team Target G-Force/Toyota have him perched to take his second American title (he won the 2000 Indy Lights championship).

"Anything can happen down there and there's a lot of competition but I think we're in a good position to take it."

	Tony Kanaan pretty much must win Sunday to grab the IRL title.

Kanaan only has one win for Michael Andretti's stable and has been a picture of consistency in his 7-Eleven Dallara. But the Honda-powered driver knows it will likely take another W to earn the title.

"My goal is to qualify in the front, lead the most laps and win the race," he said. "It's not that I am going to drive any different, but I am going for the win. I have no other choice."

Depending on what happens to their competitors, Castroneves and Dixon could finish as low as 21st and still claim No. 1 while Kanaan could place as low as 14th and emerge champion with the right circumstances.

Hornish, whose new Chevy/Cosworth engine carried him to three victories in the last four races for the Pennzoil/Panther team that he's leaving after Sunday's show, doesn't have to win -- but it sure would help his cause.

Even if the 23-year-old charger from Defiance, Ohio, wins and leads the most laps (for two extra points) to grab the maximum 52 points available, he still needs Castroneves and Dixon to run no better than fourth to snare his third straight IRL championship.

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.

"We are definitely back in the fight, but it's going to be tough," said Hornish, who is replacing de Ferran at Team Penske in 2004. "Every time I've won this year, Dixon has finished second and he's been strong all year. Same with Kanaan and Castroneves.

"Any of the four of us can win this race and there is no doubt in my mind that a couple of us are going to be in the top three. So it doesn't seem to really pan out in our favor but I'm excited to see what happens."

De Ferran, who missed Japan after suffering serious injuries at Phoenix and then returned to win Indianapolis, needs a miracle to add the IRL crown to his two CART championships. The 35-year-old veteran must win and needs teammate Castroneves and Dixon to finish no better than 10th, Kanaan to run no better than seventh and Hornish to finish no better than third.

"Sure, we're definitely the longshot of the five but I want to end my career with a victory. That would be ideal," he said.

Castroneves, with two wins in his Marlboro Dallara/Toyota, believes his team could be the difference on Sunday.

"All five of us are very competitive and I believe we are the only ones who were able to position themselves in a winning situation all year," he said. "It's not so much about being the fastest guy or having an amazing driving style, it's about being patient.

"And the strategy of the team helps. I've got Team Penske in my corner."

All five will come out swinging Sunday but only one will be left standing with that million-dollar payoff and championship trophy.

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.