The Racing Line at Daytona International Speedway

Everyone has heard of the Daytona 500, the famed NASCAR event that takes place on the giant tri-oval, but Daytona International Speedway includes a versatile interior course that hosts an array of major events, including AMA races and the Rolex 24, as well as other schools and track days. With an incredible 31 degrees of banking in the oval, the horizon at this track appears almost vertical in some of the onboard motorcycle footage. Needless to say, this long road course configuration is a hair-raising venture with just about any vehicle.

Successful navigation of the racing line at Daytona Speedway involves mastering two sections - the front section and the chicane. The front section begins with a tightening left-hander. Almost all drivers clip the inside of the track before running out to the right to set up for Turn 1, but the optimized lines all show that it is quicker to stay to the outside all the way until turn-in. Turns 2 and 3 can be taken just about flat-out, with some motorcycles needing to lift slightly. At Turn 4, it's very important to avoid turning in late from too far toward the left. The Miata stays out a bit wider than the other vehicles and clips the apex rather than hugging the inside.

Turn 6 is similar to Turn 4, in that the Miata comes in from wider out than the other vehicles. That's mainly because it can take Turn 5 flat out, even sticking the left edge. The faster vehicles exit 5 wide to the right and stay close to the inside through 6, taking a bit of the double apex around the flat edge of the corner.

Turn 7 is straightforward if you can remember where you want to exit the corner in relation to the second apex. Motorcycles will pretty much hit the apex, whereas faster cars will run wide of it. The Miata should also run a bit wide, but be going almost parallel to the track rather than driving toward the outer wall.

After cruising through the huge banking at full throttle, you arrive at the chicane. This turn is critical for quick laps. The key for four-wheeled vehicles is that the line is dictated by taking apexes at 10, 11, and 13, but running just slightly wide of the apex at 12. Take Turn 11 at the highest possible speed and drive out hard through Turn 13. Motorcycles may or may not apex at 12, depending on the cornering limits.

I'd then warn you not to forget to brake at the end of the humongous semi-straight that follows the chicane, but Turn 16 is a nice little reminder that you need to start driving again.