Racing line
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In motorsport, the racing line is the fastest path a vehicle can take through a specific corner, series of corners, or track. The racing line is generally characterized by creating the largest turning radius possible within the confines of the track. A simple example would be a 90 degree left turn. In most cases (excluding other factors like bumps or variations in banking or traction at different places in the turn) the ideal line would be starting on the very right hand side of the track entering the turn, apexing at the very inside (left) at the middle of the turn and exiting the turn again at the very right side of the track.
For multiple corners and/or straights, the analysis is complicated somewhat. Because the net goal is to minimize the time spent traversing the course, the driver must sometimes deviate from the typical racing line to set up properly for the next corner or straight. Exit speed onto a straight is one of the most important parts of racing, because an exit speed only slightly lower corresponds to a substantially larger time traversing the straight (the speed reduction is "integrated" across the straight).
