Qualifying sessions or qualifying races?

[JohnRW]

Dispense with "practice". Make first session a combined "practice / qualify", then race ("qualifying race", "race", "post-race race", ad infinitum).

Test days are for practice. Race days are for racing.

[mc-integra111]

It sounds like I'm in the minority, but here is what I like:
- I like the first session of a weekend to be practice (work out cobwebs, learn tracks, learn competitors, etc.)
- I like at least 1 classic qualifying session, fast time wins.
- After that, I would like multiple races. I would not like grid sports to be determined by finishing position, but rather fast lap as several have suggested.
- Generally I would like more shorter duration races (rather than less longer races). I find that a great majority of the time I do not gain or lose any positions in the last 5 laps or so (maybe 2-3 for big tracks like RA), so I would prefer re-gridding and going at it again.