What Does Optimal Lap Teach vs Delta?

[Jet One]

While analyzing AIM Data at home I noticed my Optimal Lap for my last 3 sessions at VIR were 2:04.21 vs my best lap 2:06.16. My experience in HPDE is to hope you have clean track, tires are at temp and most of all be ready to go when the time arrives to see your best lap time. When I see green delta I push to improve or see where I lost it. Does Optimal show my inconsistency or should it change my expectation? Normally optimal vs best lap are within a 1.0 of each other. Similar conditions and grip if large disparity actual vs optimal I'm going to expect more out of the session knowing that I'm already driving sectors well enough to be that quick. Don't know if this is the right way of going about it? When I see my optimal I usually run a similar lap time on my next trip...I'm sure this will slow as I improve. Any inputs would be appreciated.

 

[TMSBOSS]

Optimal should be the best segments pieced together as if one lap.

 

[Jet One]

Optimal should be the best segments pieced together as if one lap.

Yes, I guess my question is how should I be use that knowledge? I guess it pretty subjective. Maybe I need to learn how to use the data to help my improvement more effectively.

 

[EF1]

The optimal lap is your theoretical best lap based on what you have driven so far. It will change as you get better/get more data on a given track. The difference between your actual lap and optimal shows the inconsistencies in your driving. Look at specific segments of the track where the delta is biggest and focus on them. Only pick a couple of segments to work on each session and see how you can improve consistency on them. Then reevaluate data and pick the next couple to work on.

 

[TMSBOSS]

The delta between best and optimal will shrink as you become more consistent. I use the delta as an indication of how consistent I have been that day.