With the traditional month of May now over the IRL IndyCar Series drivers can shift their focus to the high-speed banking of the Texas Motor Speedway, where this weekend's highly anticipated Bombardier 500k takes place.

With less engine power and new aerodynamic regulations in place, a repeat of Kenny Brack's horrific crash at TMS last October shouldn't be repeated and while all drivers are mindful of that situation, they are focusing on the close, spectacular racing that Texas always provides.

"I always enjoy the night race at Texas,” says Dan Wheldon, who clinched last year's IRL IndyCar Series rookie of the year title in last year's season-finale at the ultra-fast 1.5-mile tri-oval. “I think the entire Klein Tools/Jim Beam crew is looking forward to it. We've run near the front all year and we've got that one point lead over TK (Tony Kanaan) in the championship so we know we have to be at our best.

“Texas is going to be very competitive. I think you'll see everyone running together in a big group so the key is going to be making sure you have a fast car that handles well in traffic."

For his part, Kanaan will be looking for redemption after losing the IRL IndyCar Series title in Texas last October and following his second place run at Indy, the Brazilian Andretti-Green Racing driver is eager to chalk up another cross in the win column.

"I'm looking forward to Texas,” says Kanaan. “It's obviously a very fast race track and one where you have to find the edge. But, I like that. You have to have a car that goes fast and that's it. Texas is all about speed. I'm sure the racing there will still be very close and very exciting, so it should make for a very good show. I came about as close as you can come to winning without winning in this race last year, so hopefully this year we can finish the job in front of everybody in 7-Eleven's backyard."

Another driver arriving in Texas with high expectations is rookie Kosuke Matsuura, who excelled at Indianapolis and came away with a top-ten finish and the Rookie of the Year award.

“We are coming off a strong month in Indianapolis,” says the Super Aguri Fernandez Racing driver. “I am looking forward to coming to Texas Motor Speedway. This will be my first visit to Texas and also my first night race so there will be a lot to learn. It will be very different to race at night and I am looking forward to it. The races there [at Texas] are always exciting, and there are a lot of fans that come to see us race. We have been improving every race as a team, and it has really helped me to have Adrian [Fernandez] as a teammate. I will do my best and hopefully we will have good results at Texas.”

For Fernandez, the Bombardier 500k will give him his first opportunity to race at TMS following CART's unfortunate cancellation of their 2001 event there.

“I am very excited to go back to Texas, and I'm looking forward to carrying the momentum we had at Indy,” added Fernandez. “I know it will be an exciting race. It will be different with a lot of things to learn since we will be racing side-by-side, which in some ways I am new to, but I am looking forward to it. The more laps I do, the more comfortable I feel.

“The team has been doing well and we are more organized, and I am sure we are going to be very competitive. I am also looking forward to meeting a lot of the fans that we have there. I did some PR in Texas a few years ago, and I could see the strong support we have in that market. For a driver, that is very motivating.”