Hi, go to your LFS directory, open up cfg.txt and set start windowed to 1. Does it start up ok then? It should do. Then go in to the options and pick a suitable resolution, and go back to full screen if you wish.
Indeed, thats the most helpful thing to do. I often press the button just for a split second several times when someone is close so I can watch the road ahead and whre opponents are at the same time
The laps required are the same for all the cars available, so suitable tracks are needed, i.e. no rallycross because its not suitable for the race cars.