HUNTERSVILLE, NC - As NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow project nears its developmental completion, Monday’s latest test at Michigan International Speedway represented an important barometer. The NASCAR community focused its eyes on the teams present at MIS yesterday, but the Toyota Camry adorned with the NAPA AUTO PARTS shield drew the most attention. . “It’s about as good as could be expected,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition. “We’ve got a lot of new teams here this time around, or new drivers anyway, just getting their single-car runs in and trying to shake it down.”

It was the first time Toyota has participated in Car of Tomorrow testing prior to fielding three NEXTEL Cup teams in 2007. Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing, and Team Red Bull participated Monday, representing the first on-track milestone for the sport’s newest manufacturer. “To be a part of the process of helping develop this car and contribute to the future of NASCAR is pretty exciting to me personally,” said Lee White, senior vice president and general manager of Toyota Racing Development. “And I think very exciting for our company and the teams that are here and the drivers. I think everybody is really enjoying it.”

Monday’s session focused on honing aerodynamics and other balancing and handling components – setting up cars for maximum individual performance, then transferring knowledge and feedback to the afternoon group runs.

"This feels like a racecar," Waltrip said following the first test session at Michigan International Speedway. "I had lots of room in the cockpit, and I felt a lot safer. That's just a wonderful feeling, that you're not all crunched down in there." Safety is just one of the elements that went into developing the COT. With a roof that is two inches higher and a cockpit that is four inches wider than the current Cup cars, teams will be able to insulate the drivers better with the use of double roll bars on the driver's side of the car and energy-absorbing materials in the door panels to reduce the force of impact. Waltrip also was complimentary of the car's handling and its looks, saying he doesn't expect fans to be put off by the car's design.

"It's all new," said Waltrip, who will continue his testing tour tomorrow at Kentucky Speedway, along with Jeremy Mayfield. "New engine. New Camry. It's a big day for the team -- a big day for Toyota and NASCAR. "It's a good thing we don't have to worry about racing [the Toyotas] this year, too. Our focus needs to be on building cars, taking them to the wind tunnel and then validating what we learn by testing. We've still got a ways to go."

NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on Bristol Motor Speedway ...

What are your thoughts and expectations for racing at BMS?
“ I won a Busch race there a couple of years ago, but Bristol has been a bit of a challenge for us here lately. We had a wheel come loose and got some damage in one of the wrecks there in 2005 and still finished 19 th. We have run well there and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team is definitely gaining confidence down the stretch. Bristol has a lot of wrecks, everyone knows that. To avoid it, you’ve got to have a car that handles well. If you handle well, you are fast. If you are fast, you don’t usually get wrecked. If you are slow and holding people up, then you’ll get your car torn up. Spotters are probably more important at Bristol than any other place. The track is so quick that if there is a wreck in turn two, you need to know it. The high banks can really blind you, so I depend on my spotter to be quick on the draw to let me know when and where to go.”

Why do you think drivers enjoy coming to Bristol?
“ Anyone who has ever been to a race knows the excitement that accompanies it from the campgrounds to events in the cities we travel to. But Bristol is a city that is on fire during the races. It reminds me of Daytona, just on a smaller scale. People are probably there right now waiting for the cars to show up. They have a big parade when the haulers come in. Then they have the Food City Race Night where the drivers sign autographs. It’s an event for the whole week.”