UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 3, 2003



                      CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware                             1-13925                      38-3389456
(State or other                    (Commission                  (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)              Identification No.)
incorporation)



                         5350 Lakeview Parkway South Dr.
                             Indianapolis, IN 46268
             (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (317) 715-4100







ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         On October 3, 2003, Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (the
"Company") announced the resignation of Carl Haas from the Company's Board of
Directors.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference as part of this Report:

Exhibit     Description
-------     -----------
 99.1       Press release dated October 3, 2003
 99.2       Letter of Resignation from Carl Haas to the Company dated
            September 22, 2003


                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized on this 3rd day of October, 2003.

                                        CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Thomas L. Carter
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Thomas L. Carter,
                                            Chief Financial Officer


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