In Pixar’s Cars 2, which character is the secret mastermind behind the World Grand Prix conspiracy?

In Pixar’s Cars 2, Sir Miles Axlerod is the secret mastermind behind the World Grand Prix conspiracy.

Axlerod presents himself as a wealthy former oil baron who has converted to alternative fuel and established the World Grand Prix. His public image suggests that he wants to demonstrate the value of Allinol, but the investigation eventually reveals that he is orchestrating the plot.

The conspiracy uses disguised broadcasts and electromagnetic weapons to make Allinol-powered cars appear dangerous. Axlerod’s objective is to discredit alternative fuel and restore demand for oil. His identity is concealed until the final part of the film, when the evidence links him to the attacks and the wider operation.

Professor Zündapp is a separate villain who helps carry out the scheme, while Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell investigate it. Axlerod’s reveal is also tied to his unusual vehicle identity: he is ultimately exposed as a modified lemon car rather than the heroic industrialist he claims to be.