Which former Piston Cup champion does Paul Newman voice in Pixar's Cars?

Paul Newman voices former Piston Cup champion Doc Hudson in Pixar's Cars.

Doc Hudson is the town physician and judge in Radiator Springs, but his past is revealed as the famous Hudson Hornet racer. He won three Piston Cup championships before a crash and a period of recovery ended his racing career. His experiences make him skeptical of Lightning McQueen's careless attitude when the young racer first arrives in town.

Doc eventually becomes Lightning's mentor. He teaches him that racing involves more than raw speed, helping him understand controlled turns, teamwork, and respect for competitors. The character's design is based on the Hudson Hornet, a real automobile associated with successful stock-car racing in the early 1950s.

Paul Newman, a noted actor and racing enthusiast, recorded Doc's dialogue for the first Cars film. Newman died in 2008, and archival material from his performance was used for Doc in Cars 3. Doc's number is 51, matching the year the Hudson Hornet was introduced.