BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- For the first time in Cup Series history, a competition car is being built outside the United States, and it's happening in the South American country of Argentina.

Alberto Canapino, technical director of the Argentina-based HAZ Racing, unveiled for fans and local media at the Auto Performance 2007 motor show held in the country's capital of Buenos Aires the team's plans for building a Sprint Cup Chevrolet, following all guidelines set by NASCAR for the Car of Tomorrow.

"We are really proud to be the first team in NASCAR history to build a car in South America, or anywhere outside the USA," said Canapino, a well-known racecar builder and crew chief in South America. "When we went [to the U.S.], we felt they gave us a nice welcome to the sport. The category's technicians provided us with the rules and now we know most of the chassis will be built in Argentina.

"Rear suspensions are quite similar to everyone, but there is some more freedom to work with front suspensions, which we will use to create our own setups. We all know that the V8 engine is similar to all teams, too."

When word first hit the region about HAZ Racing's plans, thoughts were the team would look at the Nationwide Series as a starting point. But at the show the team confirmed plans on racing in NASCAR's top division.

"We positively know that it will be harder for us to find the right balance in oval tracks, but we are here to make experience," Canapino said. "For sure, we will feel more comfortable when we go to road courses, though everything is part of a step-by-step process."

At the team's display there was a scale-model of the car with the No. 08 on both the sides and the top. Fans could look at the car in the modern facilities of the Sociedad Rural de Palermo in Buenos Aires. Screens also surrounded the display showing highlights of Nextel Cup races to give the Argentine fans, which are more familiar with road-course racing, a more in-depth look at the sport.

"Sooner or later, there will come a day in which we will need help from an American driver to develop our car, someone to let us know most of the secrets of oval racing and the vehicle specifications," Canapino said. "However, at due time our plan is to select a driver from our native country to participate in the championship."

Canapino might not have to look far for his driver. Fernando Hidalgo and Alejandro Masas, Canapino's partners at HAZ Racing, raced in the popular 3-Litre Turismo Carretera Series with driver Christian Ledesma and won the championship in their first season in the series.

"We chose NASCAR because they immediately showed interest in our ideas, but also because of their spectacular races, huge popularity and millions of fans," Canapino said. "Plus, with their prize system, it is easier for a newcomer to start and get something back after the original investment has been done. It all made sense at the time of picking an international category with basic rules that are not too different from the ones we know by competing and winning with our Turismo Carretera cars."

There is only one oval track in Argentina, the 2.95-mile (4,750 meters) Rafaela, located in Santa Fe, Argentina, which held a 500-mile Indy race in the early '70s. That is where HAZ Racing will test its new COT in dates yet to be confirmed.

The Auto Performance 2007 motor show featured more NASCAR-related exhibits with specialist Mark McArdle, who traveled to Argentina as a guest, hosting a discussion entitled, "Development and Performance in NASCAR."