F1 2010 Database questions

[hippotastic]

I was having a look at the database file and I have a few questions


1. It seems like there are variances of engine performance race to race? Cosworth have a 30% chance of a good engine and 40% chance of a bad engine? They supply 4 teams, with a chance of 2 bad and 1 good engines.


1.1 Is this every race it is worked out? Or is it the engine number 3 for example that could be the bad one?
1.2 Does that mean if you get a dud engine and be off the pace, is that unit always, or can the odds change and it become a good engine again?
1.3 any idea how much this varies from the stated power per tier? Good - 720 + ?? Bad 720 -??
1.4 what sets the engine power, the engine_manufacturer or the teams stated power?


2. Drivers starting rank. For Rubens for example, he starts on rank 18 for a 3 year, 24 for five year and 29 for 7 year contracts.
2.1 Do the AI drivers like Rubens get the same points we do when we race?
2.2 Does their rank increase, or stay static?
2.3 can changing these values affect the performance of your team mate
2.4 are these only read at the start of a new career?


3. The drivers seem to have favourite tracks. I assume then they will perform much better at those tracks?