[Dirk Gently]

I recently downloaded and attepmted to install the "radeon" driver package from the DRI project on Sourceforge. When i try to install it it fails and I get this written in the log file: "Makefile.linux:136: *** Cannot find a kernel config file. Stop." Needless to say, I have a Radeon video card, I was logged in as root and was not running X at the time. I understand what the message is telling me but have no idea what to do about it (or why that should be).
More information: Redhat Linux 8 with kernel 2.4.20-19.8 and an ATI Radeon VE QY (Radeon 7000 [?]) video card.