Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Nadeau’s condition improves to serious, stable

Tuesday, May 6, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau was upgraded from critical to serious condition Monday, three days after suffering head, lung and rib injuries in an accident during practice at Richmond International Raceway.

Doctors at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond listed him in "serious but stable" condition, according to team spokesman David Ferroni. MB2 Motorsports, the team for which Nadeau drives, has not released specific information about Nadeau's injuries other than he suffered a collapsed lung.

Ferroni said Nadeau's head injury does not include a skull fracture -- as was reported by some media -- and doctors said Nadeau's improvement is "right on course for the injuries he sustained."

Nadeau's U.S. Army-sponsored Pontiac spun late in Friday's practice session and made hard contact with the outside concrete wall. The driver's side of the car took the brunt of the impact.

Jay Frye, general manager of MB2 Motorsports, said he had no indication that the accident was caused by a mechanical malfunction.

"Every indication we have is that there was nothing mechanical that happened," Frye said. "We were having a great practice. We were going very fast. It was just one of those things that happened. It was an accident."

Nadeau, 32, who is married with a 10-week-old daughter, joined several other NASCAR drivers last Wednesday visiting wounded U.S. soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Frye said he believed the experience would help Nadeau in his recovery.

"It's ironic that he was at Walter Reed Wednesday and saw ... the spirit of these young soldiers who have been injured," Frye said. "There was no feeling sorry for yourself (among the soldiers) ... they're ready to go back.

"Maybe that is a blessing in disguise that (Nadeau) saw that. Now, he's going to have some of the same struggles that maybe some of them are having. We saw their attitude and he is the same type kid. He's feisty, he's a winner, he's hard-headed and he'll be back."

Gordon, who is driving the Andretti Green Racing No. 27 Dallara/Honda for the injured Dario Franchitti, posted the 25th fastest practice speed (220.636 mph) among the 29 driver/car combinations that practiced Sunday. Gordon was able to run only 10 practice laps before rain cut short the session.

" I got home (to Charlotte) from Richmond about 2 a.m. and then I woke up at 7 a.m. to fly to Indianapolis," Gordon said. "I normally only sleep about five hours a night so (Sunday) was no problem.

"We had an opportunity to get up to speed and we were consistently quick so I feel good about the Archipelago/Motorola car."

On Monday, Gordon improved his speed to 227.735 mph and was seventh fastest.

Gordon is attempting the "double" -- the Indianapolis 500 and the Winston Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., later that evening -- for the second year in a row and the fourth time in his career.

Childress said a replacement driver will be announced soon.

Other winners were Don Sargent (Chargers), Ken Kulikowski (IMCA Modifieds), Michael Fredericks (Pro/Masters Legends), Taylor Barton (Semi-Pro Legends), Austin Murphy (Bandoleros), Dave Green (Thunder Roadsters) and Darren Rollins (Bullring Bombers).

Super Late Models, Chargers, Legends Cars, Bandoleros, Thunder Roadsters and a demolition derby will be on the weekly Bullring card Saturday night. Spectator gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and qualifying will start at 5:45.