What is the name of the race car who is the main character in Pixar’s Cars?

Lightning McQueen is the race car who serves as the main character in Pixar’s Cars.

At the beginning of Cars, McQueen is a talented but self-centered rookie competing in the Piston Cup. After becoming separated from his transport truck, he damages the road in Radiator Springs and is ordered to repair it. His experiences with the town’s residents gradually change his priorities.

Lightning McQueen’s name combines a lightning reference with the surname McQueen. The character was inspired partly by real racing personalities and by Pixar’s research into American roads and motorsport. He is voiced by Owen Wilson in the feature films.

McQueen remains central in Cars 2 and Cars 3. In the third film, he faces a younger generation of racers led by Jackson Storm, giving the character a story about competition, mentorship, and adapting to change.