Kyle Busch has admitted that he is in discussions with Toyota to test a Formula 1 car later this year – with a view to possibly switching across to the top flight in the not-too distant future.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup ace – the younger brother of 2004 NEXTEL Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch – has enjoyed an impressive start to 2008, triumphing eight times (twice in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, three times in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and three times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup) and being on-course for victory from pole position in last weekend's Sprint All-Star outing at Lowe's Motor Speedway before engine failure put him out of contention. He currently leads the Cup standings and lies second in the Nationwide Series classification and seventh in the Craftsman Truck title chase.

The hard-driving, recently-turned 23-year-old registered Toyota's first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series success in his Joe Gibbs Racing-run Toyota Camry at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this year, and told reporters at the Charlotte track in North Carolina that he is currently talking to the Japanese manufacturer about conducting a demonstration run in one of its F1 cars during the close-season in Japan.

“We're working on a test session right now at the end of November or beginning of December sometime – going to Japan and doing a little exhibition sort of deal and see what it's like," Busch was quoted as saying by speedtv.com.

“We'll take the Cup car over there too, I think, just kind of run around there at either Twin Ring (Motegi) or something like that and show them what the Cup cars are like and try to get in the Formula 1 car, too.”

Whilst acknowledging that he was open to offers as far as a race seat was concerned in the future should the test prove promising, the Las Vegas native did admit that grand prix racing might be a little tame compared to the doorhandle to doorhandle, rowdy and raucous nature of NASCAR to which he has been accustomed for the past eight years.

“I wouldn't mind it,” the 2005 NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year reflected when asked if he would contemplate a full-time switch, having previously joked that he wanted to move across the Pond into F1 once he turns 30. “If I can do it and I'm good at it then I'll give it a shot and try it.

“We'll see how good I test first. We'll see if my neck can withstand the g-forces of the braking and everything.

“It seems as though the racing isn't all that great, though. They kind of get stuck in-line and the aero takes over everything.

“Toyota is not necessarily one of those companies at the moment that is like Ferrari or McLaren, or [like] Renault was a couple years ago. I don't think it is just a driver to put in the seat to make it go. You need a little bit more of a car.”