Track and Filed help?

Question

sorry on sounding stupid but when i was watching the 4x400 relay and other races the first runners start at different places (i mean some ppl are in front and some ppl are in the back) doesn't that have a better advantage for the people in front? and y do they do that?

Answer 1

Because the track is an oval only the inside lane is exactly 400 m so to even it up the lanes get a staggered start so they are all 400m .

Answer 2

if you are closer to the center you start further back because you have less distance to cover on the turns