[Fundamentals] Is "slow and smooth" actually fast?

We hear this phrase used all the time, but what exactly does it mean, and how does it get you around the racetrack faster?

I hear the phrase “Be smooth to be fast” all the time. This is an abbreviated version of the full saying – slow is smooth and smooth is fast – which (I believe) is widely attributed to the Navy SEALS and applied in a variety of contexts. I’ve heard it used in bicycle racing, tennis, golf, and of course, all too often, in motorsports. It’s typically given as advice to new riders/drivers as a way to keep themselves in check when looking to push their pace a little more. “Just remember to be smooth!”