TOYOTA Partners with NHTSA and NASCAR to Promote Traffic Safety

        WASHINGTON, DC - Toyota Motorsports announced today they are joining
NASCAR's ongoing traffic safety alliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT) aimed at saving the lives of everyday drivers on America's roads

        Toyota Motorsports, through its participation in the Craftsman Truck Series, will
collaborate with the USDOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
and NASCAR to encourage racing fans to use their safety belts every trip and every
time.

        "We all have the same mission - automobile safety - and no one knows the
value of safety belts better than the men and women who drive on NASCAR's
raceways," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge, M.D.  "Unfortunately, too many
young drivers still fail to emulate their racing heroes.  Nearly 72 percent of males under
the age of 35 killed in car crashes were not buckled up.  I commend Toyota's leadership
in driving home our lifesaving message among all Craftsman Truck Series fans."

        "We share the goal of NHTSA and NASCAR to encourage racing fans to take the
same common sense approach to auto safety that NASCAR follows on the track," said
Toyota Motorsports Vice President Jim Aust.  "The Craftsman Truck Series drivers have a
unique and devoted following of young male fans who will benefit from this message."

        "Safety is NASCAR's number one priority and we're proud to take a leadership
role in promoting automobile safety to millions of Americans on and off the track," said
Gary Nelson, Managing Director of Competition for NASCAR.

        Dr. Runge joined Toyota's Jim Aust and NASCAR's Gary Nelson in attaching a
"Buckle Up" decal to the B-pillar of Robert Huffman's No. 12 Toyota racing truck.  Each
Toyota truck in the Craftsman Truck series will sport the decal, as will various team
photographs and merchandising materials.  At public appearances and speaking
engagements, Toyota drivers will remind fans to buckle up.

        NHTSA's 2003 statistics show that pickup truck drivers typically use safety belts
less frequently than the national rate of 79 percent usage for all drivers.  In 2003, only 69
percent of pick up drivers were observed wearing safety belts compared with 81 percent
of passenger car drivers.

        "Pickup trucks continue to be the fastest growing market in America and Toyota
is committed to playing a bigger role in this segment," said Aust.  "Winning consumer
awareness about safe driving in Toyota trucks is just as important as winning races."


 
        Tracing its heritage from Toyota's Princeton, Ind. assembly plant, the Toyota
Tundra made its historic entry into the racing ranks of NASCAR's Craftsman truck series
on February 13, 2004 at Daytona International Speedway and includes four race teams,
seven drivers and pit crews, and a multi-faceted marketing campaign.

        Toyota is the title sponsor of the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series race at Nashville Superspeedway on August 14, 2004 and the Toyota All-Star
Showdown NASCAR Touring Series post-season all-star event.