Miles Axlerod was an oil baron before the events of Pixar's Cars 2.
Axlerod presents himself as a reformed industrialist who sold his oil empire and became an advocate for Allinol, an alternative fuel. He uses that public image to organize the World Grand Prix and promote a supposedly cleaner energy source to the world's cars.
The film later reveals that Axlerod is the hidden mastermind behind the conspiracy. His plan depends on causing cars to malfunction when they use Allinol, then using the resulting disasters to make alternative fuel look dangerous. The revelation makes his earlier claims of environmental conversion part of the deception.
Axlerod is voiced by Eddie Izzard. His role links the film's racing spectacle to a larger story about energy, publicity, and manipulation, while the character's reveal provides the central mystery for Mater and the international agents to uncover.