Nextel Cup testing starts at Daytona

Fifty days after the season ended with Jimmie Johnson taking his first Cup title at Homestead, half the teams have started their preparations for the season opener, which takes place February 18.

The reigning Nextel Cup champion will take to the famous banking a little over a month since fracturing his wrist in a golf cart incident during a charity golf event in Florida.

Most of the attention will be around Toyota's official debut on track as they prepare for their first season in NASCAR's top division.

Brian Vickers will be driving the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, while Dale Jarrett will run the No. 44 UPS car and Dave Blaney the No. 22 Caterpillar machine.

Between the drivers getting their first taste of their new teams this week will be Casey Mears, whom Juan Pablo Montoya replaces at Chip Ganassi Racing.  Mears makes his debut behind the wheel of the No. 25 National Guard Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports

Ricky Rudd, who returns to the Nextel Cup this season, will run at Daytona for the first time since 2005, driving the No. 88 Snickers Ford for Robert Yates Racing.

All teams that were in odd-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 12, 2006, are scheduled to test from Monday to Wednesday. The rest of the teams will test next week.