Down the drag strip - set your gears up to just shift into 4th as you
approach the start-finish line. This should get you turning 195-197 before
you give the brakes a hard tap going into turn 1. Down shift into 3rd mid
way through turn 1, before you get back on the gas. Accelerate off turn 1
and shift into 4th before you reach the tunnel turn. You should be able to
get through the tunnel turn in 4th gear - keeping the speed at 162-165
minimum. Stay in 4th gear until you get on the brakes for turn 3. Again,
downshift to 3rd mid way through turn 3 and accelerate back down the drag
strip shifting into 4th just as you approach the start-finish line. With a
decent setup you should be able to turn laps at 165+ - sufficient to keep
pace with the AI cars at reasonable strength levels. The AI is pretty
quick here - so you do have to hussle. They are clocked at laps
approaching 167 mph - pretty quick for your car without driving the tires
off the thing. Some folks shift in the tunnel turn - but I find this hurts
my gearing off the other corners and generally does nothing to improve lap
times. In general, if you don't have to shift - don't ! In real life
this is particularly true, since a shift runs the risk of over-revving the
engine and of destroying the gearbox and/or clutch. In the sim it just
takes away from your concentration of hitting the right line through the
turn.
/THansen