Well that is kind of the definition of ASR. At least on my car that is how it works. When it detects slippage it applies the brake to the slipping wheel and will also lower the engine throttle if necessary to prevent slippage. You can push a button to turn it off but that will just cause the wheels to spin usually. However, maybe yours was cutting on when it shouldn't have. Mine has always worked correctly, but mine is a little later version I think, but different car so who knows. Mine has been doing a lot for me the last couple of days. I would be stuck somewhere without it.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra