Why are Lapped cars allowed to overtake the safety car???

Question

Why are Lapped cars allowed to overtake the safety car???

Answer 1

so that they can rejoin in a proper order

Answer 2

The first car a lap down gets the free pass , but other cars get to pass the pace car to get in proper position so all laps are counted equally. Everything is electronically scored and passing the pace car gets the lap count in the correct order .

Answer 3

the idea is to have #2 behind #1, #3 behind #2 and so on and so forth.  inthe middle of a race, sometimes there are backmarkers (lapped cars) in between.  when the race restarts (it is a rolling restart), a backmarker who is not in a fight may ruin the chances of the guy behind him.  to make the race fair, the back marker is allowed to overtake the safety car and go around the circuit and join the back (if he has the time).  ofcourse it is usually a waved yellow and he cant drive at top speed but only with caution..

Below is an extract from formula 1.com - i have also attached the link

The safety car will then allow cars to pass it until the race leader is immediately behind it. When signaled to do so, any lapped cars in among the leading pack may then unlap themselves, pass the safety car and proceed around the circuit to retake their positions at the back of the field. Once the correct race order has been restored, the pitlane will reopen.

Answer 4

It's to make sure the front running cars are not endangered or blocked by the back markers. It gives the top running cars the freedom to go without having to fight through traffic.

Answer 5

only the first car that is a lapped down gets a free pass and gets to get back on the lead lap.

Answer 6

All lapped cars are allowed to pass the SC so there will be no unintentional blocking for the lead cars when the SC goes back to pit.

Answer 7

So that they can unlap themselves and join back in the right position where they are supposed to be. it's also to avoid them from getting in the way of frontrunners