Whoops, I haven't been following this thread since last week, and just as it got very interesting!
I completely agree with Mr. Kuttner's analysis and design philosoply, and I'm glad to see it looks like his team is about win the mainstream category and the $5m purse.
It's pretty funny, after my recent success with using ice to keep the driver cool, to read about a very well funded team doing something similar. I'm almost surprised they didn't use something more exotic (cryogenic, perhaps), but ice is actually extremely potent stuff.
@Neil: design for minimum A/C load is a great idea. Several of the things you mentioned can help a great deal, especially blowing dry air across sweaty passengers. Though at some point, I can tell you from experience, it's not enough and you need to introduce something cold. The 95°F limit that XPF set is a reasonable number.
Here's a photo gallery of the WWU car:
MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist - Western Washington University X-Prize car
It's cool to see all the Insight parts: the engine from an angle you don't often see it, a Civic hybrid battery housing, painted Insight wheels, and an Insight instrument cluster looking out of place in an otherwise unpolished cockpit.