In Pixar's Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez races as Lightning McQueen's substitute before becoming his team partner.
Cruz begins as McQueen's high-performance trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she is technically skilled, she has never fulfilled her own dream of becoming a racer. McQueen initially treats her as a coach rather than a competitor, but their relationship changes during his training journey.
At the Florida 500, McQueen realizes that Cruz deserves the chance to race. She takes his place in the competition and ultimately wins the race against Jackson Storm. Afterward, McQueen adopts a mentor role modeled on Doc Hudson, while Cruz becomes the new Rust-eze racer. They continue as teammates, with McQueen supporting her career.
Cruz is voiced by Cristela Alonzo. A common mix-up is naming Jackson Storm as McQueen's partner; Storm is his principal rival and represents the younger generation that challenges him.