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Nadeau hurt in wreck during practice
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
RICHMOND - Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau was injured in a crash during a practice session Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway.
Nadeau was cut out of the car, taken by ambulance to the infield care center and then loaded onto a helicopter to be transported to the Medical College of Virginia in downtown Richmond.
"The doctor has told us there is the potential for some serious injuries. That's all we know" NASCAR vice president for communications Jim Hunter said. "We are waiting for a further report after we get him over there to find out what's going on."
Nadeau, 32, driver of the No. 01 Pontiac sponsored by the U.S. Army, hit the outside wall between turns 1 and 2 about 5 p.m. during the first of two race practices following qualifying for Saturday night's Pontiac 400.
A television replay showed that Nadeau's car lost traction as it started into Turn 1 near the inside of the track. It spun up the 14-degree banking spewing white smoke from its tires, turning 180 degrees before hitting the outside wall on the driver's side with the nose of the car pointing back toward Turn 1.
Emergency workers arrived quickly at the scene of the wreck and within moments began using tools to cut away the roof of the car. The roof was folded back and workers took Nadeau from the car, put a neck brace on him and put him on a backboard before putting him in the ambulance.
Nadeau, a native of Danbury, Ct., has made 177 career Winston Cup starts. He won the final race of the 2000 season at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his only career Cup victory. In 10 races this year, his best finish has been fourth at Texas Motor Speedway.
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
RICHMOND - Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau was injured in a crash during a practice session Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway.
Nadeau was cut out of the car, taken by ambulance to the infield care center and then loaded onto a helicopter to be transported to the Medical College of Virginia in downtown Richmond.
"The doctor has told us there is the potential for some serious injuries. That's all we know" NASCAR vice president for communications Jim Hunter said. "We are waiting for a further report after we get him over there to find out what's going on."
Nadeau, 32, driver of the No. 01 Pontiac sponsored by the U.S. Army, hit the outside wall between turns 1 and 2 about 5 p.m. during the first of two race practices following qualifying for Saturday night's Pontiac 400.
A television replay showed that Nadeau's car lost traction as it started into Turn 1 near the inside of the track. It spun up the 14-degree banking spewing white smoke from its tires, turning 180 degrees before hitting the outside wall on the driver's side with the nose of the car pointing back toward Turn 1.
Emergency workers arrived quickly at the scene of the wreck and within moments began using tools to cut away the roof of the car. The roof was folded back and workers took Nadeau from the car, put a neck brace on him and put him on a backboard before putting him in the ambulance.
Nadeau, a native of Danbury, Ct., has made 177 career Winston Cup starts. He won the final race of the 2000 season at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his only career Cup victory. In 10 races this year, his best finish has been fourth at Texas Motor Speedway.
