I haven't been able to do much racing recently, but when I do have the chance to get out, I find that only using first gear as a starting point helps out for my style of racing. If it's a straight course for a while at the start, I'll run first up to about 4000 which is pretty much the end of the pull there, then shift into second, and by the time I get any high rpms it's time to slow a bit and turn. If the course starts out with a tiny straight and a turn, hold first until you get out of the turn and punch it. When your car stops pulling in first, it's time to shift and whoop some ass. I usually stay in second unless there's a really long straight or slalom to the finish. In that case I get better traction and pull in the lower end of third.
