TALLADEGA, Ala. — Who’s going to Toyota? That’s the main question asked in the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage and the list could include at least a former champion and a former driver.

Michael Waltrip, who will own a two-car Toyota team next season, said Friday that he’s talked to former champ Dale Jarrett about joining the new team. Jarrett is in the last year of his contract with Robert Yates Racing.

“Obviously, it’s been in the media that his deal is up this year, and so you ought to be able to figure out that I probably have’’ talked to Jarrett, Waltrip said at Talladega Superspeedway. “How could you not? He’s a champion and he’s a friend. I did ask him, but I don’t have anything to report on the answer.’’

Waltrip did say that his sponsorship is set for next season but would not reveal details. It has been announced that NAPA will sponsor one of Waltrip’s cars next season, as Toyota makes its Cup debut.

A report states that Jarrett’s teammate, Elliott Sadler, is frustrated and looking to join another team. One destination could be the Red Bull Racing Toyota team. Sadler admits he’s frustrated with how this season has gone _ he’s 14th in points _ but remains committed to Robert Yates Racing. Last June, Sadler signed a contract extension, along with sponsor M&M’s, to remain with the team through the 2008 season.

“You just can’t change a team overnight,’’ Sadler said. “It’s going to be a long process. I’m here to stay at Robert Yates. I can’t see myself going anywhere.’’

A report in NASCAR.com stated that former driver Ricky Rudd, who retired after last season, has talked with Toyota.

“I’ve had a few conversations with different folks, and that’s one group,’’ Rudd told NASCAR.com. “It’s a two-way conversation. I’m not ready to come back right now, but there has been conversation. They’ve got to move on with their program, and their timeline and mine are not the same. I wanted to take a year off.’’

Waltrip said he’s talked to Rudd about running a partial schedule this season to help the team prepare for next season. Former champion Bill Elliott is doing that for Waltrip’s team later this season.

Others who have been mentioned as candidates for a ride with Toyota include Kevin Harvick, who says last week he wants to stay with Richard Childress Racing. Childress told NASCAR.com that he hopes to re-sign Harvick in the next couple of weeks.

Also, Casey Mears, who is in the final year of his contract at Chip Ganassi Racing, says he is working on an extension with the team.

Toyota will field six cars next year. Red Bull Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Bill Davis Racing each are scheduled to run two-car Cup teams next season.

NOT FRIENDS

Kyle Busch says he owes Casey Mears an apology after hitting Mears’ car during a red flag last week at Phoenix in retaliation for an earlier incident.

Busch said Friday that he had yet to talk to Mears, though. Busch said he hadn’t called Mears because he didn’t have Mears’ phone number.

“I don’t like getting people’s phone numbers from somebody to call them,’’ Busch said. “I’d rather give my number out because I think that’s the more civil way of doing it.”

Mears’ feelings about Busch?

“The guy is really fast, and he’s got a lot of talent, but he really does a lot of stupid stuff,’’ Mears said. “It’s across the board, the feeling throughout the garage. When he grows up, he’s going to be a real good race car driver.’’

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

New York City councilman James Oddo tells NASCAR Scene that he’ll do “everything in my power to kill’’ a proposal to build a track on Staten Island after Thursday’s public meeting was postponed because of an unruly crowd.

Oddo’s district includes the site proposed for the track.

The public hearing was the first on the proposed track, to be owned by International Speedway Corp.

The State Island Advance reported that the crowd of about 1,000 was rude and unruly and that one track supporter nearly put a borough councilman in a headlock.