Is there anyway to improve your starting place on the grid? It seems I always end up at the back of the grid and have to muscle my way through the cars.

That's actually a great question. Not sure what really guides what place you start in but not only have I always been in the back, but it also hasn't always been in the same position. I have started 6-8 but no better.

I liked the way the GT series would have you race one lap by yourself to determine what place you started in for the actual race (similar to NASCAR). You would even get rewarded for pole positions but in FM3 it seems to be completely arbitrary.

I was wondering that myself.

I think it's the cars PI points... but ya, i know what you mean... 3 lap race I spend the first lap trying to get away from the idiot AI (not nearly as bad as Shifts AI thou), then once I'm free...it's usually free and clear racing.


and don't ever follow the AI... I think they must be changing the radio station or something... just going strait off a turn into the wall, and usually I'm looking to follow them but not anymore.

http://s768.photobucket.com/albums/xx323...ontfollowai.flv

http://s768.photobucket.com/albums/xx323...t=anotherai.flv

Yeah, I noticed the same thing. I wonder if it's related to the difficulty settings. It'd make sense to put you in the back of the pack if the AI is set to Medium or lower. But, I haven't tried any other difficulty setting than Medium yet.

I liked how Race Pro would let you run a lap to determine your grid position.

To be honest, on Medium difficulty there is no competition. It takes me a lap at the most to take the lead and the rest of the race is rather uneventful. If I started in the pole position things would be worse. At least you feel like you're in a race for a lap or so.

I think I need to try the highest difficulty just to see how it is.

Qualifying is something that is sorely lacking in most racing games. I wouldn't mind starting from the back if I didn't have to pass 8 or 10 cars in 3 laps of a half mile circuit but the short races are also something most racing games are cursed with.