Difference between elite drivers and the rest:
Elite drivers can quickly adapt to any car setup and drive it at its limit. The rest let a bad setup stop them from driving at the cars limit.
Proof: Cav setting blistering times without a wing at Cactus. Also, I was at a nitro race where Drake set the TQ with one bead of a rear tire completely off, and the bead on a front tire coming undone (and yes, several top pros and world champions were there).
Want more proof. Here's a pro driver driving a really bad setup faster than most can drive a really good setup buggy
I have seen one of the pro's at our track have a front tire fall off during a race, continue racing and could probably beat all the club level guys including me with 3 tires lol.