Why is it that drafting is allowed in world records? Why not just break the record by having a big draft train like in cycling? Cycling records don't count if drafting is involved, in fact.
Because the benefit is pretty small compared to what you can save in cycling. Now it's certainly there, which is why you want to save the extra 5% for the 2h mark, but it's not the 40% you get in cycling on the flat (drag grows faster than linear).
I wondered whether everyone you're racing with has to have started the same path at the same time as you. If so, my inherent sense of fair says it's okay. It's just admitting that it's effectively a team sport.
However, If the people who break the air in front of the record contender get to jump in part way through, I don't like it. Though I'm realizing now that if the track is any kind of loop, you could stretch this rule by intentionally letting the contender lap the pacers so they could reserve energy for every nth lap when they hop back in front of him.
