It's not much better in a "controlled" environment either. I joined downwind in GAAP on Saturday, was doing 140-150knots @ 1,000ft and had actually passed inside an aircraft on crosswind @ 700ft that was now outside me, but was then asked to go "wide" because he was already number one and on what the controller called a "tight" circuit. He was probably travelling at less than half my speed so I had to turn over the top of him as he climbed up underneath me so I could go "wide" and be number 2 behind him and ended up doing a 5 mile final. Wasn't impressed and should have stood my ground.
Does anyone have the correct terminology for when you can't comply with ATC direction for safety reasons?