While selecting car at car select screen you can manipulate the view of the car using the digital controller. Just press it in the direction you would like the car to rotate to.
Also you can change the view of the car during the instant replays. Just hit the a button so that you are at the behind the car view. Using the digital pad you can rotate the camera angle as you please.
Plus, while in the driver's view on the replays you can hit down on the digital controller to get the originial behind the car view that you see during the race.