I'm sure you all hear all kinds of things, but the fact is, regardless of his on-track talents, to put in times that qualify for the 2010 Academy means him putting in just as much effort as the guys who are already there (i.e. way more than 10 laps). I'm not taking anything away from him, just saying that he isn't superman.
As for not touching Prologue properly for ages and then hitting the demo, I'd say that's an advantage not a disadvantage, such is the difference in the physics engine.