I recommend making sure you don't lose sight of your goals for the season. Early on, find out the easiest and fastest way to score the most points as possible, and make that your focus. Other side things (like hanging in 2010, empty cells in 2009, etc.) should wait until your primary objectives are complete. I would check out
this whitepaper, by JVN.
I also recommend taking a look at this
thread, and look for team's build journals if they are available in-season. This could help you gauge where you are in the build/design process in relation to other teams, and possibly help you improve your own design with some information on other teams experimentation. Even now you can learn stuff, a great example is
this whitepaper, on chain vs. belts.