If the jet had to travel one mile (5,280 feet up + 5,280 down) in vertical flight then you have to add his takeoff distance (about 2,500 feet) plus his distance back to the start/finish line (same 2,500 feet). He therefore covered more distance than the car and still won. In total, the car covered two miles (out and back) and the jet covered about three miles adding his takeoff distance and return distance to the two vertical miles (out and back + up and down).
Hey, it's the Internet, someone has to nit-pick this.
