DRIVES, AF OPERATIONS (specifically continuous autofocus), and AF POINT SELECTIONS

Question

I have some questions in regard to the correlation between DRIVES, AF OPERATIONS (specifically continuous autofocus), and AF POINT SELECTIONS. Because I realize that AI FOCUS AF will initially focus using the CENTER POINT then track the moving subject much like AUTOMATIC FOCUS POINT does, I imagine that if one is using AI FOCUS AF, an adequate FOCUS POINT SELECTION companion would either be CENTER or AUTOMATIC . Which is better? Also, if one should decide not to use any AF OPERATION at all but instead use CONTINUOUS DRIVE mode in conjunction with MANUAL FOCUS, would that have any bearing on which AF POINT SELECTION option one chooses. For example, a guy I read about had been using AI FOCUS AF during a Formula race. While realizing his camera couldn't keep up with the fast cars closing in, he decided to do just that. He explains he could lock the focal distance, keep it fixed in place and shoot in CONTINUOUS DRIVE to increase his chances of at least one frame being sharp. Since he furthermore says that he selected a FOCUS POINT, it makes me wonder what bearing AUTOMATIC FOCUS POINT SELECTION would have had, and could he have chosen that option for the same scenario?

Answer 1

There's no spotting me at the motorsports facility other than driving go-carts, unfortunately outside the placement of merit. Hahaha! My mentioning the guy who did shoot at Formula races was more or less an effort to give context to the problem I was trying to figure out, which really has to do with the FOCUS POINT SELECTIONS one has to consider as they relate to the different AF MODES. The guy says that he selected a SINGLE POINT to lock-in distance to the track and then switch to FT-Manual focus to take CONTINUOUS shots, whereas I'm wondering could he have used AUTOMATIC POINT selection to lock-in beforehand. It seems if the AF system is advanced enough, it would be able to focus well during the burst. Moreover, you mention panning for a more creative effect along with a bigger zoom that what I have, which in that case, I know for sure I would select a SINGLE POINT. I'm mostly uncertain when it comes to the SELECTION POINTS, particularly when I want to focus MANUALLY, and under what circumstances, if any, I would want to use the AUTOMATIC POINT SELECTION?