Ever screw up in race catastrophically and find that even after crashing 13 times it's still possible to not only catch up but actually win the race? You probably experienced what is referred to as rubber band AI, which is used primarily for racing games to keep the challenge at a consistent level through the race. The name comes from the mental image of the player's car being tied to an AI-controlled car by a rubber band, restricting any significant separation from occurring.
If you fall too far behind, the game slows the AI racers down to help you catch up and thus make the game less strict about crashing or making other mistakes. Conversely, some games will cause the AI racers to drive much faster than they normally should be able to if you happen to be too far ahead.
via destructoid http://ift.tt/2kzWfna