Nadeau Indianapolis review

Equation solved for Nadeau
By Marty Smith

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 5, 2000) - Although the formula needed for NASCAR Winston Cup Series success is a perplexing one, it appears Jerry Nadeau solved it Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Nadeau, the third-year driver of Rick Hendrick's No. 25 Chevrolet, finished fourth in the seventh annual Brickyard 400, his second such effort in the past three races, and third top-10 in the past five races.

Following the race, he expressed that he had new insight into achieving success in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

"This sport is difficult," Nadeau said. "When thing start turning around and going your way, it makes life easier. I can understand it now. When you've got a good team, you know you've got to run with the fast guys.

"When you're running with those guys it actually makes the race easier. Those guys know how to run up there. This is our second fourth-place finish in the past three races, so maybe we're learning how to run up there, too."

He was up there this weekend. After posting a 23rd-place qualifying effort Thursday, Nadeau returned Friday to post the quickest time in Happy Hour practice. The trend continued Saturday. On the strength on an early two-tire pit stop, the No. 25 team gained valuable track position, then rapidly surged to the front of the field, eventually grabbing the lead from Rusty Wallace on lap 33. Wallace regained the lead 10 laps later, but Nadeau remained the top-5 the rest of the day.

"My crew did a great job today and gave me an awesome car," Nadeau said. "At the beginning of the race, I took it easy. I knew we had the car to beat. Then we started four-tire stops, and the car just got too tight. The crew did a great job, we had the best (Chevrolet) here. I'm pretty psyched. I can't wait to get to Watkins Glen. We've always been good there.

"We started from the back, worked our way up front and made a critical decision early in the race and took two tires. That helped us stay up front the rest of the day. We were good when we were by ourselves, but when I got around other cars we got tight. Later in the day, the track got tight, too, and I couldn't do anything. Still, I was having fun. We're starting to figure things out."

Equation solved.

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