Supercars Top 10 "Zoneout"?

Sydney SuperNight, SMSP.

    We've just experienced a thoroughly enjoyable Supercars event at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP), the Sydney SuperNight. Supercars racing under lights, ably supported by Porsche Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, National Sports Sedans, Super Utes and Toyota 86 GR Cup. A category to appeal to even the most discerning fan. Supercar drivers enjoyed the pyro and light fanfare of driver introductions, as did the junior karters that greeted them, before embarking on a longer race format facilitating differing strategies. The racing was fast and frenetic across all categories. 
    There was however a lull to the jam packed programme. Supercars Top 10 Shootout! The top 10 qualifiers have a one lap qualifying blast with the track to themselves to determine the first 10 grid positions for the race. The shootout was primarily devised to be a television spectacle. We understand it builds the race anticipation with the commentators certainly contributing to the hype with the majority of punters loving the format. The drivers definitely do. What race driver doesn't relish the track to themselves with the car in qualifying trim to see who's the quickest? For us, unfortunately, whether at home on the couch or watching live at the track, there's only one car on track, and we simply struggle to get enthused. 
    The longer race format at SMSP demonstrated to us by adopting opportunistic strategies that grid positions are not the be all and end all in determining final race results. So can the Top 10 Shootout be improved upon?  Could a 5 lap sprint race for the top 10 qualifiers be utilised to determine the grid? Or perhaps a 2 lap sprint for the bottom six, with the top two progressing to a second 2 lap sprint with the remaining top four? Too convoluted you say? Should Supercars make greater use of the knockout qualifying format than what it currently does, culminating with the top 10 on track at the same time? Either way, we find the Top 10 Shootout an advantageous time when at the track to checkout the pits, or when at home to indulge in a coffee or a nice cup of tea. 

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