The difference between LFS and real racing is the difference in skill levels throughout the field. So if you're heading down to T1 and someone, who perhaps isn't sure on braking points, slams on their brakes half a mile too early, then it's hard to avoid them if everyone's close. But there are also alot of people who think they're God, brake too late and consquently take some people out.
My technique for T1 is to stay near the inside and just hope no one turns into the side of my car. Works quite often and usually I gain a decent handful of positions from the people that go the long way round