Doc Hudson is the blue racing car who becomes Lightning McQueen’s mentor in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc is a 1951 Hudson Hornet and a former champion of the Piston Cup. In Radiator Springs, he serves as the town’s doctor and judge, keeping his racing history hidden from McQueen at first. Paul Newman voices Doc in the original English-language film.
Doc’s past explains why he understands both McQueen’s talent and his arrogance. After a crash ended Doc’s career, he became bitter about being forgotten by the racing world. His relationship with McQueen gradually changes that outlook, and Doc teaches him that winning is not the only measure of a racer’s value. The character’s real-world model is famous for its success in early stock-car racing.