It's really not surprising. The Vette might have better handling than our P5s, but our cars instill much more confidence while pushing the limit.
The chart below is from when the MP3 went against some higher end cars - It's not the P5 but the feel of the road and steering response of both cars is close even if the handling of the MP3 is far superior - check out the Confidence factor - that's why Poseur was not nervous and under control and the Z06 driver was probably shitting his pants everytime he entered a curve.
edit: also look how brian herta rated the balance of the cars
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width=600 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#9999cc><TD colSpan=10>
OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE
</TD></TR><TR align=middle bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>
50% of Total Score
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80></TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>BMW M3 Coupe</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Chevrolet Corvette Z06</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Ferrari 360 Modena</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Lotus Elise</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Mazda MP3</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Porsche Boxster S</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=50>Porsche 911 Turbo</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Skidpad</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>35 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>31.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>35.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Hairpin Segment Time</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>35 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>35.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>30.5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Slalom</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>35 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>35.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.7</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Transition Segment Time</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>35 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>35.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>32.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>34.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>33.8</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>SUBTOTAL</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>140 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>130.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>136.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>137.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>137.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>129.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>134.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>134.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>136.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160></TD><TD vAlign=top width=80></TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD colSpan=10></TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#9999cc><TD colSpan=10>
ROAD SUBJECTIVE RATINGS BY R&T EDITORS
</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD colSpan=10>25% of Total Score</TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Steering Response</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.9</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Balance</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Throttle Response</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.5</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Gearbox</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Brakes</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Confidence Factor</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Driving Excitement</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.1</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.6</TD><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>SUBTOTAL</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>70 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>65.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>64.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>67.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>64.3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>61.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>63.2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>66.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>68.3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160></TD><TD vAlign=top width=80></TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>2</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>3</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD colSpan=10></TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#9999cc><TD colSpan=10>
TRACK SUBJECTIVE RATINGS BY BRYAN HERTA
</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD colSpan=10>25% of Total Score</TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Steering Response</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Balance</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6.7</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Throttle Response</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>4.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Gearbox</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Brakes</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>6.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5.6</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.9</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>Confidence Factor</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>5.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD vAlign=top width=160>Driving Excitement</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>10 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>10.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>9.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>7.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>8.0</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top width=160>SUBTOTAL</TD><TD vAlign=top width=80>70 pts</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>48.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>55.5</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>64.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>61.8</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>52.0</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>59.7</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>53.4</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=50>54.5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>