I hate return to center shifters. They dont feel or work well at all... However, they do beat out buttons, most especially in the case of Spy Hunter.
You cant fumble around trying to pinpoint a button in that game. Grasping a lever, is easy and quick. The lever also makes it easier to be certain that you Really want to shift at that moment. Accidental shifts would be very bad in that game, especially considering how fast the car can move in high gear.
And again, I stress, hook an analog pedal set up to the yoke off the y-axis. Its an easy wire job, and wont effect the standard starwars play functionality. You might want to add a toggle switch in there anyways, just to keep any accidental y-movement from the handle, to interfere with the pedal readings on Spy Hunter / Driving games.
edit: fixed heh Thanks Scott. I guess Im pretty out of it these daxs.