Good points there, Dave.
I'm all up for using 65 mod, IMO it has the upper hand on the 66 mod atm mainly because of the much more realistic slipstreaming model. I wish 66 (I dunno the situation with 69s) would have its slipstream toned down eventually, at least as a separate version perhaps. It's quite frustrating when you loose the slipstream of a pack of cars in 66 mod, they simply disappear into the distance.
As for assigning cars, I'd like people to state their prefered 2 (or more) chassis as it makes it easier for me. I'm not a super geek who drives all cars in all mods, my experience is mainly with the slower cars so sometimes I have to do some guessing and the more information I'm provided - the easier. But drivers shouldn't expect to always get their prefered cars and thus should be prepared to drive anything. I'm against assigning permanent cars for the whole length of the series, but if there is a majority that supports the idea, I'll go along. I think the situation differs in each race much more than normal because of the higher number of unknown factors involved - 2 leagues, lack of information on the opposition, differing car-track combos, even different team members as we can see...
Regarding technical problems ... or any other... as I said already, it happens to anyone, but by leaving it all for the last moment you're not entitled to make any claims, so instead take responsibility. I for one do regularly skip pre-race practice altogether and often have to install tracks (and sometimes even mods or tools), learn them, make setups, all in the last moment, but it's totally my own responsibility and my choice ultimately. As is missing a race, something which I've also done a lot and the only thing you can do in that case is to apologize or just keep quiet.
JR, I think team slipstream is an ok thing to do, honestly I don't think qualifying makes much of a difference at a track like Monza, so personally it doesn't worry me and the result was decided by the mass crashes on lap 1 rather than your team effort in qualifying. Kudos for doing what you did, you must've either practiced it a lot or it was just good luck. I have tried doing similar, with just 2 people, not 3, and it was very difficult to synchronize.