Quote:
Originally Posted by Salamus
Interesting. I've always viewed it differently.
If the distance is fixed (1000km), then the number of laps is also fixed. The only variable factors are the pace of the leader and yellow periods. The yellow periods won't have much of an affect.
If the race is timed, then the number of laps is unknown. The pace of the leader will determine how many laps will be completed and yellow periods can really limit the number of laps. I've always considered this scenario as the one that creates more strategy.
|
The lap number of 1000km is fixed, but the lower classes obviously don't fuel according to that because they are never going to reach that lap count. So they have to calculate what's going to be the lap count for them when the 1000km is reached by top class, whenever that may be (which again can alter not only because of the pace of the leader (who can also fall back or retire or whatever) and cautions, but weather and things like that)).
In 6h it doesn't technically matter how many laps there are in their class, assuming they know how much fuel they burn per normal lap they can just look at the clock to see how much time there is left in the race and make the pitstops accordingly. AND they don't have to care about the pace of the lead class, only their own.