the camera is too static. it keeps sticking to the direction of the car. in earlier patches i would make a 360 and the camera wouldn't shift more than 30 degrees. does anybody have this problem?

Just so there is no confusion, you are talking about chase view, correct? This was indeed changed in a patch, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can adjust it so that it's less "fixed" to the car. I don't know where exactly, though. I'm sure someone will come along here and point you in the right direction.

i'm referring to the "race" camera when you see it from behind, and not the custom one

this is how it should work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGgJ_YWQYpA

Look at view options. You can change it to rotate like earlier.

Don't remeber how it was called (@work now), lock behind view maybe?

Options -> View -> 'Fix to forward Axis' select NO!