The suggestion of shifting sequentially (each gear in turn) is a good one. Passing is something that is rarely a manouvre that cannot be anticipated and planned. It would be still quick and easy to downshift with rev matching into 5th, again into 4th in preparation for the pass in 3rd. (You don't have to stay in 5th or 4th for very long.)
The best post yet is what "littleton" posted. I was about to post the same thing when I noticed he had already done it. I'll post mine anyway but in different words:
A couple of posters have already suggested that you should "prepare" yourself to correct your mistake - "listen and be on the ready to push the clutch in".
Might I suggest another approach: Prevent the mistake in the first place. Rather than trying to find the gear you want, why not let the transmission find it for you? (At this point, you're all now saying, "What the hell is he talking about?")
The gear box is set up such that a spring holds the stick naturally in the 3/4 gate. Applied pressure to the left will get you the 1/2 gate. Applied pressure to the right gets you the 5/6 gate. In the case of the original poster (for future reference), the shifter should have been pushed up to the neutral (mid point) position and then have the spring do its job to take itself to the 3/4 gate. This does not take long and you don't have to let go of the stick. Once there, it's a simple thing to pull down or push up without lateral pressure for the desired gear. A bit of practice and you'll get a real good feel for what the spring can do for you.

 

My s2000 was once downshifted into 2nd at around 85mph and nothing happened. I considered myself lucky. If your car still still running fine, be very glad.

 

xviper,

Thanks for the compliment! My passing situation is usually this;
I am in 4th gear running around 65-70 in some nice twisties (I spend more time in 4th than any other gear) and come up on an old guy in a rusted out pickup going 35 in a 55. I blip the throttle to rev match as best I can (no pro but getting better at this), drop into 3rd and am at about 3500 RPM (at the 35 mph speed). When I get a good opportunity, it's fairly easy to blip the throttle, downshift and launch in 2nd. Most people don't give you problems but I've had to lean on the brakes hard several times when someone decides to challenge me and I run out of road. Just have to try to stay calm and not get nervous in these situations. Better to swallow your pride and hit the brakes. Get angry or tense up and you'll be guaranteed to do something stupid. Also helpful is to realize that 3500 RMP roughly equals 35 MPH in 3rd, 45 in 4th, 55 in 5th, etc. just as a point of reference. This and the shifter position helps keep your head straight. After 11K miles, I don't have much problem anymore and feel pretty much one with the car. Nice feeling!!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]...The gear box is set up such that a spring holds the stick naturally in the 3/4 gate.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by germ79
[B] I was going about 68 (as best as I can remember) mph in 6th. .......

68 in sixth?!- I hope it was downhill- I'd be cruising in 4th at 68 where the engine is happy(barely) That certainly is a nice place to shift into 3rd from for a pass, though! puts you right at peak torque- what a rush. My rule for 6th is downhill above 75 or level above 90, otherwise you are lUGGING it, man!

 

You tell 'em Bazza.

 

Wrong-gear downshift is #1 cause of engine failure at my local road course. My buddy tells me that the most resilient cars are the Hondas and Porsches when it comes to this. I wouldn't worry about it. I've done it in my 98 Lude a few times. She's still running great.

TC