In Pixar's Cars, Route 66 is the historic road that leads Lightning McQueen to Radiator Springs.
Lightning reaches the town after accidentally being separated from his transport truck and damaging the road while trying to catch up. The film places Radiator Springs on the old Route 66, also known as the U.S. Route 66 highway, which once connected Chicago and Santa Monica.
Route 66 is central to the film's atmosphere. The road's decline after the construction of interstate highways mirrors the decline of Radiator Springs, which loses passing traffic when Interstate 40 bypasses the town. This background explains why the town's residents are so determined to preserve its history and welcome travelers.
The Pixar story uses fictional geography, so Radiator Springs is not a real town that can be located on an official highway map. Its setting draws inspiration from Route 66 communities in Arizona, New Mexico, and other southwestern states. The road is therefore both a story location and a reference to American transportation history.