Got to eat dinner with the team captain for Skewl of Root. When asked (at the conference) how they did it, he replied, "Cooperation, Dedication, and Overwhelming Technical Superiority!".
Really want to know how they did it? Go back and take a look at their stats for the past 7 or 8 years. Notice how they almost always were in the top four finishers but most often had the suckiest "defense" stats? Care to guess what they fixed this year?
As for the other teams, they didn't place first but they definitely didn't place last. Those that actually played had to beat out nearly 400 other entrant teams (we're talking thousands of people here!). They all busted their humps to get there.
It is hilarious though, seeing team points graphed over time, with the Bossman narrating (similar to the effect of shifting into the next higher gear when the guy you're racing thinks you were at top end). Before you start buying torches and pitchforks, he was respectful of the other teams. Mebbe we can get him to digitize the commentary? (hint, hint!)
