June 5 newsstand: Texas previews

Today's news, notes & views from the Indy Racing League.

First off, Helio's not going anywhere
Or at least that's what he told a Dallas Morning News chat
The NASCAR media likes to play up the "everyone's going to NASCAR" story about this time, but Helio says comments that he'd keep his options open shouldn't be read into any further.

Says Helio: "What you heard was out of context. I'm doing everything I can to clinch the championship and run here in open wheel. Right now we've merged and the series is in a good spot and I would say the opportunity, I don't think, is there to go to NASCAR. I would consider it in that you should always leave doors open."

Texas previews
Remember when CART attempted to run the fastest 1.5 mile in open-wheel racing, only to pull the plug before the race ever happened? The depths of the split brought on some bad decisions, like trying to run 240 around Texas to show up the IRL. Like the U.S. 500, it backfired on CART.
A couple of retrospectives of that ill-fated move from the Indianapolis Star and the Dallas Morning News
Says Oriol Servia: "Honestly, it was the first time in my career that I was, well, not scared, but I could tell constantly that things were happening faster than I could process."

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram rehashes Helio's play date with the Dallas Cowboys. So does IndyCar.com.
Says Helio to Terrell Owens: "Sign my shirt, because I'm the new player -- or mascot -- on the team." Replies TO: "You're more like a kicker."

The Kansas City Star spotlights Briscoe in its weekly racing preview

Commentaries
The Lafayette (IN) Journal & Courier's Tom Kubat says the media was wrong to call out Danica for her stomp down pit road.
Says Tom: "I find it interesting that, not all that long ago, A.J. Foyt was treated as a folk hero for the exact same behavior. And, even today, NASCAR fans love it when Tony Stewart throws a temper tantrum."

Mike King checks in with his weekly IndyCar.com column

Notebooks
Cincinnati Enquirer: Briscoe's win another feather in Penske's cap
Says the Captain on No. 300: "I think really it shows the amount of work that has been done by so many people on the team, so many good drivers, so many good pit crews, all the way back when we think about winning the first TransAm and Indianapolis and you just go on and think of the drivers that have been with us. It's pretty exciting."

Official IRL news & notes
Quotes from Vitor & Ana Beatriz, the Richmond & Nashville races are being moved from ESPN2 to ESPN, and an FIL preview.

Driver features
The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a great piece on Buddy Rice
Says Buddy: "We need more testing, more wind-tunnel time. A sponsorship on the car would allow more time to do these."

USA Today: Cup commoner Ganassi rules elsewhere
A look at Chip Ganassi and his success at Indy.

AP: Penske still winning
Says Rick Mears: "Driving for Roger, or just working for him, is a privilege. He treats everybody the same and anybody who works for him knows he will give you the tools to win. And, as a driver, you know that you have a shot at winning just about every time you get on the track in a Team Penske car."

The Mansfield (OH) News-Journal notes some of the young racing stars of central Ohio, including Graham Rahal.

Interviews
Vitor Meira and Ana Beatriz were on the IRL's weekly teleconference. Read the transcript at IndyCar.com.