A three-day test began Monday afternoon featuring 40 teams with 63 cars. Additional teams are expected to join the test on Tuesday. Under NASCAR rules, teams can only test for two of the three days.

The session also mixes in cars competing in the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series, along with several 2007 cars and at least five examples of the Car of Tomorrow.

While Kevin Harvick has already locked up the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series championship - which will be officially presented following the Ford 300 here on Saturday, November 18, he was working on bettering his chances here in the 2006 season finale, the November 19 Ford 400.

"This place is so much different from everywhere else we go to," said Harvick, driver of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. "It always seems to want something a little bit different. So in testing, we tune the car to this particular track. We've brought a new car to shake down along with a car we've been racing in the middle of the year to have a baseline. We want to run through a few things we wouldn't have time to do during a normal race weekend."

Jeff Burton, his Richard Childress Racing teammate and currently NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point leader, is taking a different approach.

"It's far too early to talk about next month, to be honest," said the driver of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing. "There are a lot of different ideas of how to test. Some people are testing specifically for this track simply for this race, some people are testing towards a broader view of things."

Toyota is represented by at least five teams, including two Cars of Tomorrow. Con-Way has one COT, driven by Johnny Benson, while Bill Davis Racing has a No. 22 COT for Dave Blaney and Jeremy Mayfield. Also testing a Toyota is Red Bull Racing, with Mike Skinner. Blaney and Mayfield are also sharing time in the No. 55 NAPA Dodge fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing, giving both drivers time in a current car, the 2007 Camry plus the Camry Car of Tomorrow.

Additional Cars of Tomorrow are a pair from Roush Racing, the No. 26 and No. 99, and the No. 1 from Dale Earnhardt Inc., driven by Martin Truex Jr. and Kerry Earnhardt.

Each day is divided into two sessions, in the afternoon from 1-5 p.m. and under the lights from 6-9 p.m. Spectators are invited to view the activities free of charge from the Speedway Club on the fourth floor of the main office building.

Ford Championship Weekend also includes Friday evening's Ford 200, the final race in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Tickets are still available for all three weekend races, including limited seats in a temporary grandstand that will be added for the sold-out Ford 400. For ticket information, call (866) 409-RACE.