Old Champ Car fans stay connected

CCIC Friends is a group of Champ Car/CART fans who have kept in touch with each other following the “merger" of Champ Car with the Indy Racing League. Their interest was to continue to follow the progress of Champ Car teams and drivers who went to the Indy Racing league. The Friends also follow the Atlantic Series.

CCIC Friends communicate by email with each other. The coordinator of the project is Dave Pixley (Dapix), a longtime fan of Champ Car/CART. Members are scattered all over the United States.

For 2009, the Friends have a very ambitious program planned. Members will connect with each other as to who will be attending which IRL, Atlantics and IMSA races and will plan to meet in social settings at each event. In addition they plan on meeting in an Annual Winter Meeting (5th annual) Saturday, January 10, at 6:00 PM at the Motorsports Hall of Fame, 43000 Expo Center Drive, Novi, Michigan. Billy Kamphausen, former Director of Logistics for the Champ Car World Series, will join them to share his experiences and insight into open wheel racing's past and future.

For 2009, the Friends will follow former Champ Car drivers (in Champ Car between 2004 and 2008) rather than former Champ Car teams, keeping track of how they are doing.

CCIC Friends is open to anyone who is interested in former Champ Car drivers participating in the IRL in 2009. Anyone wishing to be part of the group should just send an email to CCICFriends@yahoo.com and ask to be added to the email list. Dave Wood