Naa, when you are on a track, you push limits. That is the big benefit to track time. It provides a safe place to explore and learn. All of todays cars are to bloody fast to push limits on the street.

Footwork. That sounds like classic heal - toe. At a minimum during a downshift you need to raise the engine revs so the car does not get unsettled during the clutch release.
But there is much more to footwork, especially in todays heavy nosed cars. There is a fair amount of brake application to balance a car mid turn and exiting a turn. Most cars need a light to moderate brake application when the throttle is open to get them to rotate and remain settled during the exit phase of a turn. Commonly called "left footing".
When I set up a FWD car for racing, the throttle must be wide open from turn in to the track out of a turn. If you lift throttle mid turn the car will spin out real quick. With this setup there is less need for the use the brake to reset the car midturn. It makes it real easy to tighten or open your exit when tracking out. Makes the car fast.