Cars was the final Pixar feature film voiced by Paul Newman before his death.
Newman voiced Doc Hudson in the 2006 film, giving the retired racer a combination of authority, warmth, and regret. Doc's history as a champion who left racing after a serious injury parallels the film's interest in how public success can shape a character's identity.
Newman died in September 2008. Cars 2, released in 2011, contains Doc Hudson through archival material and story references, but Newman did not record a new voice performance for that sequel. The character was retired from the active story after the actor's death.
Newman's connection to racing was unusually direct for a Hollywood performer. He competed in major events, co-founded a racing team, and won a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979. Those experiences helped make his performance as Doc especially distinctive.