GP2 race/qualifying format

[runshaw]

This has been on my mind since the start of the GP2 season now. I just don't know what to think of the way drivers qualify for race 2, that is, by reversing the top 8 finishing order from race 1 of a GP2 weekend. I am not criticising it for sure, as GP2 is the most exciting single seater ch'ship in the world at the moment IMO, but the format does baffle me.

Junior ch'ships are about the best drivers going out to race each other at the front and ultimately only the best few win because they are quicker than the rest. But with Olivier Pla now becoming a double race winner I just question whether or not this is right! (I am not at all saying that Pla isn't a good driver, he obviously is)- but my point is that I don't know whether he or others like Piccione would necessarily be at the front battling with Rosberg, Speed, Heikki etc if it wasn't for the way they qualify for race 2. Pla has won 2 races now MAINLY because he has finished 8th for race 1, and I am not sure if that is a true indicator of talent. Piccione and Pla seem to have won races because they had a low points-paying position in race 1. Don't get me wrong, it makes for great racing and similar formats work well in BTCC, but shouldn't junior ch'ships be about spotting the truly qucikest overall drivers?

There hasn't yet been a GP2 race weekend where one driver has won both races, yet in all the other junior race series it is common for one driver to win both races on a weekend, because of his skill combined with their team who obviously deserve it. Rosberg and Kova clearly deserve double race wins on a weekend judging by their charges from 7th or 8th on the grid in race 2 where they usually set the fastest lap in the process, but only make their way up to 3rd or 4th by the end of the race.

Again I am not criticising GP2, but it seems that the best drivers are penalised for race 2 because they were the best drivers in race 1! Whereas people like Pla are rewarded for having a low points score in the first race. Even though it wouldn't be as exciting for the spectators, I just can't help but think that GP2 should just have an F3 style format, 2 qualies for 2 races. I am just interested to see what others think on this matter.