I could hear movement in the engine compartment (going through the gears) and it worked. The CSR said that if you shut down the car and it isn't in P completely, then upon restart it won't work... this somehow reprograms the car electronically.
fyi,
Don't know if this means completely in any gear or just park, but I gotta tell ya that since I am use to driving a stick, I have on several occasions shut of my smart without putting it in park at all and have never had an issue with it not starting the next time.