In Pixar's Cars, the veteran race car who mentors Lightning McQueen is Doc Hudson.
Doc is a dark-blue 1951 Hudson Hornet and the town's judge and doctor. He initially resents Lightning's careless behavior, but eventually agrees to train him. Doc teaches Lightning that racing depends on more than speed, including control, patience, and respect for others.
Doc's past is a major part of the film's history. He was once the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a celebrated racer and three-time Piston Cup champion, but a serious crash ended his career and left him feeling forgotten. Paul Newman voices Doc in Cars, making it one of the actor's notable late film performances. Doc does not appear as an active character in Cars 2, although his memory remains important to Lightning.