ZCanadian

I wouldn't seriously track any car with stock (street) brake pads. They are spec'ed with dust and noise in mind, not fade resistance. They are meant for city traffic, and need to work at -20 degrees. In traffic, these seldom get up to the kind of temperatures that track pads need in order to start working. These are life safety devices - even moreso on the racetrack.

Even performance pads come in many, many different flavours - for auto-cross and light lapping days, sprint, full on race, and even endurance. These are not one-size-fits-all, and very few overlap well with regular street use. Especially if you don't like squeal, or cleaning your front wheels every day. And if you like to consistently make that stop sign at the end of your street on cool mornings!

Cannot fathom how Car and Driver wouldn't figure this out. As the manufacturer, I'd just shrug my shoulders as well, and hand them the bill!