D.M.
I had this one too!
My son started going to daycare, and they had a set nap schedule for older kids of 12 to 2:30pm. So, they asked us to start following their routine, and putting our son to bed later at night for his final goodnights. They were more than willing to accomodate a morning nap schedule, but as the switch was to be made at 14 months we didn't mind giving it a shot. Our schedule on the weekends became something like this:
wake up 6:30am
nap: 12:15pm to 2:30(ish)pm
bedtime routine: 7pm
asleep by 8pm.
It took me about three weekends, to get the switch over done on the weekends, but he started napping at school with the rest of the kids during the middle of the day and enjoying himself. It was tough to keep him up for those trips in the car, like you mentioned, but I got the Baby Einstein car caterpillar and hung it from the seat. We'd listen to sing-a-long music...adjusting any routine is tough, but do it with care and patience. You'll find any daycare will require some kind of adjustment period.
I would ask your daycare provider what their general schedule for naps is like...is heing nap in the afternoon okay? As they move up the ladder in daycare, they HAVE to migrate to one nap during the middle of the day, so usually that starts in infant care. Ask them for pointers, most of them are Mommies and/or have been doing this a long time!
My son isn't in daycare anymore, due to other issues, but we still maintain the same schedule for when he goes back in the Spring!
Good Luck.