Car Of Tomorrow Is Ready, Are The Fans Ready Too?

 

New day dawns for Toyota's Car of Tomorrow
By Gary Graves, USA TODAY

BROOKLYN, Mich. — If its name weren't splattered across the rear bumper, Toyota's entry into NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series probably could've blended right in with its Chevy, Ford and Dodge counterparts.

The Camry's look, feel and horsepower remain a work in progress, and by next February's Daytona 500 even those who will race it won't recognize it. Most important for the Japanese carmaker was seeing how its Car of Tomorrow would perform on the track for the first time, and Monday's participation at Michigan International Speedway was a milestone in its quest toward distinguishing itself from its counterparts.

"Just getting here is a tremendous success for us," said Lee White, senior vice president and general manager for Toyota Racing Development. "We don't even have an approved Car of Tomorrow design, and the car you see here is just a shot in the dark. It was important to our teams to be here, because (Team) Red Bull's going to go to Daytona without any owner's points and will have to find their way into the race on speed.

"So it was important to get here and work within the system and be part of the NASCAR partnership with this Car of Tomorrow. Just taking the time to build these two cars with everything else that has to get done was a major accomplishment for us."

Enjoying it most was Michael Waltrip, who will drive one of his team's three Camrys (Dale Jarrett will drive another, and the third spot is still vacant). Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull also tested, and Waltrip viewed it as perhaps the most crucial in the start-up process. read more on the Car Of Tomorrow