How to find where a lap gained or lost time
Find the first big move in the delta, not just the biggest number at the end. Then back up a little. The thing that caused the gap usually happened before the chart makes it obvious.
Last reviewed
How to find where a lap gained or lost time
Session 4 · Lap 5 · 1:41.560
The main idea
Describe the whole chain: an earlier slowdown changed entry speed, which changed rotation or line, which changed exit speed, which accumulated time down the straight. That is more actionable than naming only the corner.
What to look at
- The steepest sustained delta changes
- Speed separation before the delta opens
- Different path length or track position
- Whether the gain remains afterward
Try this
- Rank the two or three largest delta changes
- Analyze the earliest one first
- Compare entry, minimum, exit, and following-straight speed
- Check the map for a line difference
- Repeat with another clean lap to test the pattern
Keep in mind
Correlation in one pair of laps is not proof. A gain can come from traffic, GPS offset, wind, temperature, or a mistake elsewhere in a linked sequence.
FAQ
Should I start with the biggest loss?
Usually, but prioritize a safe and repeatable opportunity over a dramatic one-off event.
Why work backward from the delta?
Because the time effect frequently appears after the driver action that caused it.