It does seem like a win, win situation, and more than likely it will go that way. But for those of you who were around to remember
the glory days of IMSA, when 'real' prototypes were all the rage, Toyota basically signed the death certificate for the series. The Gurney Toyotas were unstoppable, and that - in part - led to the demise of that series. Do I think that a similar thing will happen to NASCAR down the road? No, because I expect NASCAR to keep it fairly even, no matter what amount of money Toyota puts into car, engine and team development.
That final statement could well be welcome news to GM and Ford, both of which aren't exactly enjoying prosperous times at the present. If they had to keep pace with Toyota - in terms of dollars for development - in NASCAR, their life
expectancy might be fairly short (just look at GM in the IRL over the past few years).
Overall, I think it is a great move for Toyota, and I believe it will turn out to be a good move for NASCAR; only time will tell. Finally, Toyota is expected to take over the title of 'the world's largest automaker' in 2006, so it is only fitting that the world's largest automaker, which incidentally holds title to the best selling car in the U.S., that same Camry, be in the world's biggest stock car series.
'Intruders' Win Rolex 24
Two Ganassi IRL drivers and a Nextel Cup driver have won the hallowed Rolex
24 at Daytona. Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Casey Mears took the 44th running of the Rolex 24 at the wheel of their #02 Target Lexus Riley. They won by just over a lap.
For Ganassi, it was his first Rolex 24 win, and he did it without any Grand Am 'regulars'. "There are only a few big races in the world and this is definitely one of them. To be a part of it, I can't believe we're sitting up here right now winning this race," Mears said after the race.
In fact, there were 55 champions in the Rolex 24 this year, and the race is clearly going back towards its glory years now that it's once again featuring a whose who of the entire motorsport world. It
started with some Cup drivers doing 'one offs' a few years ago - Dale Earnhardt Senior and Junior got the ball rolling with a drive in a GM Racing Corvette. Since that time, the race has just snowballed in popularity.
This year, the list of notables is way too long to name here, but world class drivers like Ron Fellows, Paul Tracy, Patrick Carpentier - who led for a long time in his Cheever entry before it blew up - Max Papis, Rusty Wallace, Kyle Petty, Adrian Fernandez, 2005 Nextel Cup champ Tony Stewart and many, many more made this a race to remember.
 |
| I expect NASCAR to keep competition fairly even, no matter what amount of money Toyota puts into car, engine and team development. (Photo: Toyota - Caterpillar) |
That final statement could well be welcome news to GM and Ford, both of which aren't exactly enjoying prosperous times at the present. If they had to keep pace with Toyota - in terms of dollars for development - in NASCAR, their life
 |
| Overall, I think it is a great move for Toyota, and I believe it will turn out to be a good move for NASCAR. (Photo: Toyota) |
Overall, I think it is a great move for Toyota, and I believe it will turn out to be a good move for NASCAR; only time will tell. Finally, Toyota is expected to take over the title of 'the world's largest automaker' in 2006, so it is only fitting that the world's largest automaker, which incidentally holds title to the best selling car in the U.S., that same Camry, be in the world's biggest stock car series.
'Intruders' Win Rolex 24
Two Ganassi IRL drivers and a Nextel Cup driver have won the hallowed Rolex
 |
| Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Casey Mears took the 44th running of theRolex 24 at the wheel of their #02 Target Lexus Riley. (Photo: GrandAmerican Racing) |
For Ganassi, it was his first Rolex 24 win, and he did it without any Grand Am 'regulars'. "There are only a few big races in the world and this is definitely one of them. To be a part of it, I can't believe we're sitting up here right now winning this race," Mears said after the race.
In fact, there were 55 champions in the Rolex 24 this year, and the race is clearly going back towards its glory years now that it's once again featuring a whose who of the entire motorsport world. It
 |
| The #02 Target Lexus Riley takes the win at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. (Photo: GrandAmerican Racing) |
This year, the list of notables is way too long to name here, but world class drivers like Ron Fellows, Paul Tracy, Patrick Carpentier - who led for a long time in his Cheever entry before it blew up - Max Papis, Rusty Wallace, Kyle Petty, Adrian Fernandez, 2005 Nextel Cup champ Tony Stewart and many, many more made this a race to remember.