  The rapid localization of GRB 021004 by the HETE-2 satellite allowed nearly
continuous monitoring of its early optical afterglow decay, as well as
high-quality optical spectra that determined a redshift of z3=2.328 for its
host galaxy, an active starburst galaxy with strong Lyman-alpha emission and
several absorption lines. Spectral observations show multiple absorbers at
z3A=2.323, z3B= 2.317, and z3C= 2.293 blueshifted by 450, 990, and 3,155 km/s
respectively relative to the host galaxy Lyman-alpha emission. We argue that
these correspond to a fragmented shell nebula that has been radiatively
accelerated by the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow at a distance greater than
0.3 pc from a Wolf-Rayet star progenitor. The chemical abundance ratios
indicate that the nebula is overabundant in carbon and silicon. The high level
of carbon and silicon is consistent with a swept-up shell nebula gradually
enriched by a WCL progenitor wind over the lifetime of the nebula prior to the
GRB onset. The detection of statistically significant fluctuations and color
changes about the jet-like optical decay further supports this interpretation
since fluctuations must be present at some level due to inhomogeneities in a
clumpy stellar wind medium or if the progenitor has undergone massive ejection
prior to the GRB onset. This evidence suggests that the mass-loss process in a
Wolf-Rayet star might lead naturally to an iron-core collapse with sufficient
angular momentum that could serve as a suitable GRB progenitor.
