[WolfpackS2k]

Thanks for that post, lots of valuable information and I agree with almost all of it. However:

Around the time you missed your apex, you should have realized, "Sumbitch! I'm going OFF!" And then calmly DRIVEN off, letting the car have its head, onto the grass on the outside, and NOT TURNING, except to gently bring your car back to parallel with the track. Then slow down further, and ease it back onto the track.

I never thought (nor did the car feel like) I had a chance of sliding off on the right side. The car had plenty of grip on the front and I wasn't experiencing any understeer. One thing for certain is that I did not track out enough and use all of the track at my disposal.

BTW, was your car trying to set the long, dry grass alight? Was that the cause of the smoke and subsequent fire extinguisher bill?

Sadly there was no "trying". My brakes (and possibly exhaust) did catch the grass on fire and caused further significant damage to my car.