Actual SIM RACING topic!

The league I run has locked the topic, despite intense discussion and
varying views. I'll post the general details and would like input.

Phoenix race this past Friday. 35% distance, 2x fuel/tire wear, Yellows
on, no Lucky Dog rule in effect, double file restarts. About 11 driver
started, 9 finished running. 5 cars on the lead lap, and 1 driver 1 lap
down.

The 5 lead lap cars and the 1 lap down car are all VERY close in lap
times and the racing has been pretty clean for most of the race. The
lapper has made about 3 attempts to get his lap back without success
over the past 3 cautions, about 50 or so laps.

Final caution flies with 14 laps to go. Green comes with 11 to go, so
the single file restart isn't applicable. Leader takes about 1 lap to
pass the lapper. 2nd & 3rd place then begin trying to pass the lapped
car. As the laps wind down to 3 to go, the lapper and another car
tangle and spin. Race ends under caution.

Lapper says that he was running hard to stay in touch with the leader
in the event of a spin and he could get the lap back and then make a
run for the win upon the restart.

I agree with that, to a point. The 3 attempts earlier in the race were
legit and worthy, all tried for the same result, getting a lap back.
However, in those cases he had upwards of 50 laps to play with.

With 11 to go and (as previously stated) the 5 lead lap cars running
similar times, I feel that he had no shot at the win and only hindered
the ability of the other cars to race each other and the leader for the
win.

Furthermore, I said that once he was passed by the leader, there was no
point in racing the other leaders, as staying in front of them served
no purpose, especially with 10 to go. He would have had to had the
leader spin, get his lap back and then pass 5 cars in the span of 5
laps to win. Highly unlikely based on the performance of the drivers to
that point.

I am interested in what other simmers feel about this. Should he have
moved over and the leaders go at it, or was he right continuing to
fight?