I think if you want a 1st gear start without having to kickdown you have to manually select '2' and then slide it over to the right (labeled 'B'). With the car at a stop, once you've selected 'B' you can move the shifter back to 'D' and it will jump off the line in first gear and upshift normally. After this drag race, though, you will need to repeat the procedure if you want another 1st gear start. Hope this helps.