In indy car racing, why is it better to pit during a caution lap, and why is it bad to pit before caution?
In most oval racing, the cars are going fast enough that if you pit during a green flag run, you WILL go a lap down. Now.....IF everyone pits under the green flag....the cars will cycle around, and those that got lapped pitting, will lap those who pit later, and everyone will be back on the lead lap. IF you pit under green, and get lapped, THEN the yellow comes out, you will be trapped a lap down. If you do not pit on that yellow flag (because you pitted a few laps ago under the green), you will be ahead of the lead lap cars, but will have to remain behind the pace car, which, in effect, will leave you almost 1 full lap behind the leader. If you pit under that yellow flag, you will remain a lap down.
You'll more than likely lose a lap by pitting before a caution, unless everyone else does as well. A lot of drivers will try to stay out as long as possible in hopes of a caution.
when you are under caution you have plenty of time to make a pit stop, if you are under green and pit, and everyone else pits, then you are all equal, if you pit and a caution comes out then you are in a bad spot because the cars are going faster, advantage goes to those who had not pitted yet, because they have more time to get back out in front of the leader and not get lapped, but if someone has been lapped and choose to stay out and not pit if they have enough fuel and good tires they can get their lap back, sometimes a team will bring their car in and "top of" just put a dash of fuel in to try and get the advantage of being able to run just a few more laps than someone else (aka pit strategy)
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