Talk around the Winston Cup garage area this season often settles on Toyota’s much-anticipated entry into NASCAR’s top circuit. It is not about “if” with Toyota, but “when.” And it is not about “how,” but “how much.”

“It’s going to be something,” said Winston Cup driver Mark Martin. “And what I’ve seen as an ignorant bystander is when they do something, they pretty much demolish the competition. I don’t think they would come in here and flop.”

Toyota hasn’t officially said it would enter Winston Cup in either the near or distant future, and neither the company nor NASCAR officials will talk about the matter.

What’s clear, though, is that Winston Cup teams are bracing for the arrival of Toyota, which already is successful in other racing series. Wherever it goes, it is with deep pockets and a thirst for technology.

The specter of Toyota, which does plan to start a NASCAR Truck Series program in 2004, had been hovering above NASCAR when Dodge Motorsports split with car owner Bill Davis in May for violating the terms of their contract. Dodge then sued Davis last week, alleging he had used the company’s parts and pieces to build a truck for Toyota.

The Davis news fueled an already-volatile atmosphere for Toyota within NASCAR. Some fans don’t want the Japanese company involved with NASCAR because of a rule that allows only American-made cars in any of its series. Toyota, however, has several plants in the United States.

Then there’s Toyota’s performance in other circuits, which is very good. Take, for instance, the Indy Racing League.

Toyota started fielding IRL teams this season and has won four of the series’ five races. It took seven of the top 10 spots in May’s Indianapolis 500, including winner Gil de Ferran and runner-up Helio Castroneves. Among Toyota’s five IRL team owners are Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi and A.J. Foyt, each of whom also fields Winston Cup teams. Toyota also has teams in Formula One and the National Hot Rod Assn., among others.

“In Winston Cup, and I know I’m going to get in trouble saying this, there are probably only two teams, maybe three, that are going to be able to use the tools that Toyota’s (going to give) them,” said Robby Gordon, a Winston Cup driver who has driven for Toyota in other series. Gordon saw Toyota’s domination at Indianapolis firsthand last month when he drove a Honda-powered car in the 500.

NASCAR president Mike Helton, left, and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Senior Vice President Dave Illingworth announced Toyota's plans to enter the 2004 NASCAR Truck Series at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show.

“They’re not going to come in and throw all the money around like you think they are,” Gordon said. “I’m talking about through technology. When Toyota comes in, they’re going to want answers. They’re going to want reasons why this is better and that’s better.”

Ray Evernham knows about coming into NASCAR cold, leading Dodge’s re-entry in 2001.

“People come in from the outside and think it’s easy sometimes, but they find out when they get here it’s not what it seems,” said Evernham, who owns two Dodge Winston Cup teams. “You can come in and spend money unnecessarily. I don’t think (Toyota is) going to have access to any more technology that’s going to give them a solid leg up.”

Martin thinks Toyota’s potential introduction to NASCAR will only continue the natural growth the sport has experienced.

“You think there’s a lot of jobs now in NASCAR?” said Martin, who thinks other foreign manufacturers, perhaps Honda, also are eyeing the sport. “Wait until 10 years from now. Ten years ago there was only room for 15 guys on a Winston Cup team, now there’s room for 100.

Toyota will enter the Tundra, above, in the 2004 NASCAR Truck Series. Many stock-car teams believe an entry into the Winston Cup series isn't far behind.

“And are we sure that Toyota is the end? Are you sure there aren’t others? I would find that hard to believe.”

Others would welcome Toyota to NASCAR’s top racing series.

“If they put a competitive car on the track, then I think they belong,” Winston Cup driver/car owner Jeff Gordon said. “I think that can definitely change the face of our sport by opening it up for other foreign manufacturers to come here.

“That will keep our sport being more and more competitive, which is a good thing.”