You mentioned strip use in your first post which would support the need for baffles around the pump pickup to ensure oil presence upon hard acceleration. Dave is correct about keeping the oil from the crank rotation elements, the main reason is to keep them from whipping air into the oil. Air bubbles don't lubricate as well as oil does. A bigger pan doesn't necessaryily mean increased lubrication, there's only so much space in the bearing clearances for example, what it does mean is that there's less chance of oil starvation, especially if you're going with a high volume pump, and greater opportunity for additional cooling.