Lightning McQueen enters Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars.
After becoming separated from Mack, his transport truck, Lightning accidentally damages the road in the small desert community. He is ordered to repair it before leaving, which keeps him there long enough to meet Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, Mater, and the other residents.
Radiator Springs is a fictional town on the historic U.S. Route 66. Its name and setting evoke the roadside communities that declined after newer interstate highways diverted traffic. The town's restoration becomes one of the film's central themes, alongside Lightning's change from self-focused racer to dependable friend.
The town is not the same as a real city called Radiator Springs. Pixar created it from research into Route 66 landscapes, businesses, and landmarks, while drawing on real communities such as those in Arizona and New Mexico.