CREATE TABLE table_203_339 (id NUMBER, "year" CLOB, "car" NUMBER, "start" NUMBER, "qual" NUMBER, "rank" NUMBER, "finish" NUMBER, "laps" NUMBER, "led" NUMBER, "retired" CLOB)

what was his best finish before his first win ?
SELECT MIN("finish") FROM table_203_339 WHERE "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM table_203_339 WHERE "finish" = 1 ORDER BY "year" LIMIT 1)
SELECT MIN("finish") FROM "table_203_339" WHERE "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM "table_203_339" WHERE "finish" = 1 ORDER BY "year" FETCH FIRST 1 ROWS ONLY)