Cruz Ramirez wins the Florida 500 after Lightning McQueen gives up his race in Pixar's Cars 3.
Lightning begins the event as Cruz's mentor, but he changes the plan when he realizes she can compete at the highest level. He hands the race over to Cruz, who enters the track in his place and challenges Jackson Storm.
Cruz ultimately defeats Storm and wins the event, while Lightning accepts a new role supporting her career. The ending does not portray Lightning as losing his importance; instead, it shows him passing on experience and choosing when to race and when to mentor.
The Florida 500 is a fictional championship event in the Cars universe. It should not be confused with real-world Florida races or with the Piston Cup season's earlier competitions shown in the franchise.