With a new system of templates and sensors to measure the parameters of the taller, wider and reputedly safer car, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sanctioning organization wants to leave no doubt that it will come down hard on infractions.

"We have to lay down the law," France said Sunday at Infineon Raceway, where the Nextel Cup cars raced in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.

That doesn't bode well for the teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who were parked for Friday's practice and qualifying after NASCAR inspectors found front fenders on their COT Chevrolets had been illegally modified.

NASCAR is expected follow up in the next few days with more severe penalties, possibly including the loss of drivers and owner points, six-figure fines and suspensions for the crew chiefs.

Gordon drove a great strategic race Sunday and wound up seventh.

COT ON TRACK: Sunday's race was the road-course debut of the Car of Tomorrow and the drivers were generally pleased.

Third-place finisher Jeff Burton said he wasn't surprised that the new car, which had only six previous Cup starts, all on ovals, did a good job at Infineon Raceway. But he noted there's still a lot of development work to do.

"You know, it has its problems, there's no question," he said. "It's not a perfect car. But this car is proving to be pretty resilient."

FUEL FAILURE: Robby Gordon started second and led a race-high 48 laps, including the first 34 on the 1.99-mile, 12-turn circuit. He wound up 16th after his team's fuel strategy let him down late in the race.

"We need to figure out why we're getting a quarter of a gallon less fuel mileage than the other guys," Gordon said.

KEY RECEIVER: NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice was feeling the pressure Sunday morning.

Rice was nervous about delivering the traditional "Gentlemen, start your engines" line.

"I'm truly just looking forward to the race right now and saying those four famous words," Rice said.

Rice said he was enjoying meeting some of the drivers this week, particularly Gordon.

Gordon told Rice he was a San Francisco 49ers fan.

"He said he has a helmet with my signature and (Joe) Montana's," Rice said.

SPARKPLUGS: Juan Pablo Montoya is the third foreign-born driver to win a race in NASCAR's top series. The Colombian driver joined Italian-born Mario Andretti, who won the 1967 Daytona 500, and Earl Ross of Canada, who won on the short oval at Martinsville in 1974. ... A crowd estimated at more than 100,000 turned out Sunday, a clear, breezy day with temperatures reaching into the mid-80s.