Hello,
For some reason your message wasn't shown on the Google Groups web interface.
Could you explain in more detail what you're doing with the game and which settings are you using?
Did you modify anything using an editor? What is the difficulty level and opposition spread?
If I understand your message correctly, regardless of the lap times that are set in qualifying by the player and the computer controlled cars, the race start order will be determined by the car numbers?
What are the lap times shown next to each driver on the starting grid?
Cheers