In Pixar's Cars, Paul Newman voices Doc Hudson, the character inspired by the Hudson Hornet.
Newman was a highly regarded actor and a serious automobile-racing competitor. He raced professionally and later became associated with motorsport through events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 team Newman/Haas Racing. Those real-life connections made him an especially fitting choice for Doc, a former champion who understands both speed and the cost of competition.
Doc’s fictional racing career is based on the reputation of the real Hudson Hornet. In the Cars story, he won three Piston Cups before a crash ended his career and left him forgotten by the racing world. His experience helps McQueen recognize that success cannot be measured only by trophies.
Newman died in 2008, so Doc Hudson does not return as a living character in the later films. Archival material and the character’s legacy remain important to the franchise, especially in Cars 3.