CREATE TABLE table_204_740 (id NUMBER, "pos" CLOB, "no" NUMBER, "driver" CLOB, "constructor" CLOB, "laps" NUMBER, "time/retired" CLOB, "grid" NUMBER, "points" NUMBER)

who finished before nick heidfeld ?
SELECT "driver" FROM table_204_740 WHERE "pos" = (SELECT "pos" FROM table_204_740 WHERE "driver" = 'nick heidfeld') - 1
SELECT "driver" FROM "table_204_740" WHERE "pos" = (SELECT "pos" FROM "table_204_740" WHERE "driver" = 'nick heidfeld') - 1