Doc Hudson is the retired Piston Cup champion and former race car in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc lives in Radiator Springs and initially serves as the town’s physician. He is also the Hudson Hornet, a legendary racer who won three Piston Cup championships in the 1950s. His racing history is hidden from Lightning McQueen at first because Doc dislikes discussing the way his career ended.
In the film, Doc’s experience makes him an important mentor for McQueen. He teaches the younger car that racing is not only about speed and publicity. Doc’s backstory also reflects the fate of real racing champions who were pushed aside when newer technology and younger drivers changed the sport.
Doc Hudson was voiced by Paul Newman in Cars. Newman was a real-life motorsports enthusiast and racing competitor, which gave the character an especially fitting voice performer. Because Newman died in 2008, Doc does not have a speaking role in Cars 2, although the character is honored in the story.