TCS is a traction control system. What it does is limit the amount of HP transfered to your wheels. It bascially eliminates wheel spin. So there will be no "Chirping" the tires in second gear. It can drastically defeat your acceleration times.
ASM is Automatic Stability Management. It controls the forward directio nof your car. BY using the brakes, it keeps your car from spinning. If you have this set too high, it affects the ability of your car to corner, there by decreasing your speed. So you come out of the corner much slower than you could.
When you Jam the throttle down without TCS on, you get severe wheel spin, throwing your car around. By easing on the throttle, you can come out of the corner much quicker and smoother. This is where the subtety of PD's programming comes into play. When you first turn ASM off, you'll have trouble cornering. Way more power oversteer. All of a sudden, Your 1000hp viper like donuts.
I'd be willing to bet that a 600hp with no ASM or TCS in the hands of a good driver, can beat a 1000hp viper with High ASM or TCS in the hands of another driver.
The next step from there is playing with the suspension and LSD to enhance cornering.
GT Hero 79. Please post up your times. I'd be interested to see. Also add an explanation of how the car ran. FOr instance, "when I dropped off the ASM;TCS, I had a miserable time with the car spinning, when I came out of the hairpin. I attribute this too..."
AO