The basic answer is depends on the amount of traction you can achieve. Most of the time, you can go around a corner fast enough with grip to outweight the slightly higher speed of drifting.
The main benefit is that you can then accelerate faster out of the corner. And tire wear. And control. Given the choice between two similar options, you want the one that's not going to spin you out and crash and make you lose the race a small percentage of the time.
I dont if I'll make home tonight
But I know I can swim
under the Tahitian moon