Doc Hudson is the retired race car who runs Radiator Springs' clinic in Pixar's Cars.
Doc is a 1951 Hudson Hornet and serves as the town's respected judge and doctor. His earlier identity is revealed as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a celebrated racer who won three Piston Cup championships in the 1950s.
His racing career ended after a serious crash, and he became frustrated when the racing world moved on without him. Doc initially dislikes Lightning McQueen's boastful attitude because it reminds him of the way he was treated after his own accident. Their relationship changes as Lightning learns humility and Doc recognizes the young car's potential.
Paul Newman voiced Doc Hudson in Cars. Newman was a real-world actor and racing enthusiast, which made his casting especially fitting. Doc does not appear as a living character in Cars 2; the sequel honors him through the Hudson Hornet Piston Cup and memories of his role in Lightning's life.