2 Toyotas will hit track in Shootout
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Toyota will make its long awaited — but highly anticipated — debut in the Budweiser Shootout. Although the Japanese automaker hasn't ruled out winning the exhibition race, officials are approaching it as a warmup for the rest of Speedweeks.
"The information we can gain in the Shootout can be shared with all of our teams," said Andy Graves, director of Toyota's Nextel Cup program. "So we're absolutely grateful to have even one car in the race, let alone two."
Graves was with Chip Ganassi Racing back in 2001 when Dodge made its return to NASCAR, and watched as Bill Elliott participated in the Shootout then won the Daytona 500 pole the next day in a Dodge. A few days later, Sterling Marlin drove his Dodge to a victory in a qualifying race.
Now, the Toyota camp is hoping Dale Jarrett and Brian Vickers — who will pilot a pair of Camrys in Saturday night's race — can help the seven-car fleet get ready for the season-opening Daytona 500.
"The goal for us is to get feedback and earn some respect on the racetrack, with both the competition and the fans," Graves said.
Right now, Jarrett would settle for some within the industry.
Because he's with a new team and didn't carry any points into this season, his spot in the garage pecking order is near the very bottom of the list. It meant the 1999 Cup champion had to park his team hauler in the truck garage — a five-minute walk from the hustle and bustle of the Nextel Cup epicenter.
"There's no doubt this is incentive," Jarrett joked. "Right now, this isn't really so bad. We're away from everything and we're able to get everything done."
He also wasn't immediately recognized on the track. After 10 years driving the No. 88 Ford, Jarrett is now piloting the No. 44 Camry.
"Who's that in the 44?" Kasey Kahne radioed his crew during one of Friday's two practice sessions.
That's just one of the many reactions the Toyota camp is receiving as it prepares to enter NASCAR's top series.
There are two Camrys in the 21-car exhibition event, and Jarrett will lead them to the green flag after earning the pole in a blind draw. All eyes will be on the Toyotas, with everyone expected to tune in to check out the competition. Because the Shootout is an all-star event for 2006 pole winners and past event winners, Jarrett and Brian Vickers are the only two drivers from Toyota's seven-car fleet participating.
"It's the first entry of a non-American manufacturer, so it's going to be an historical day," Dodge car owner Ray Evernham said. "And it's one more thing to pay attention to. They are the new competition and everyone will want to see what they've got."
Based on Friday's two practice sessions, it's not totally clear how the Camrys will run. Jarrett was in the middle of the pack on the speed chart, but Vickers was all the way at the bottom — close to 5 mph off Denny Hamlin's fast lap of 189.745.
But that's OK for Toyota officials, who aren't all that concerned with the Shootout. As far as they're concerned, the non-points event is nothing more than extra preparation time for the season-opening Daytona 500.
Ohio native Dave Blaney and Jarrett, based on his past champion's provisional, are the only two Toyota drivers assured of making the 500 field, so Toyota is taking every chance it can get to gain information it can carry over into qualifying.
"I'm excited to see what we have," Jarrett said. "I'll be glad to finally get into those race conditions to see where we stack up and see how we can compete. How much work do we have to do? Or how little do we have to do?"
