BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Toyota made its first official on-track appearance Monday, with Bill Elliott, Michael Waltrip and Dave Blaney all piloting Camrys in NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow test at Michigan International Speedway.

Elliott drove a Toyota for Team Red Bull, while Waltrip and Blaney shared time in a car for Michael Waltrip Racing/Bill Davis Racing. Both Camrys used truck engines, as Toyota has not yet gotten approval on its Nextel Cup engine.

Toyota is set to become the first foreign automaker to compete in NASCAR's top series next season.

The Car of Tomorrow, a bigger, boxier version of the current stock car, is being phased into competition beginning in 2007. Designed by NASCAR, the COT is predicted to improve safety measures and cut costs for competitors.

NASCAR will roll it out for 16 races next season, and gradually increase the total until it is used exclusively in 2009. Monday's test was to iron out final kinks in the design and allow teams to get used to the new car.

Among the 12 teams testing was four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who turned his first laps in the CoT.

``It doesn't drive bad,'' said Gordon, whose major complaint was with the car's aesthetic appeal. ``My only concern is the way it's going to race, whether or not we can make passes, get up behind the guy and be able to turn and go or get to the outside.

``What this car is really meant to be is a car that puts on a better race. That's what I want to see.