Lightning McQueen wears the number 95 in Pixar's Cars.
The number appears on Lightning's doors, hood, and racing graphics throughout the series. Lightning begins as a rookie Piston Cup competitor whose speed and confidence have made him a championship favorite. His race number is one of the character's most recognizable visual details and appears in Pixar merchandise, video games, and theme-park designs.
The number 95 is widely understood as a tribute to 1995, the year Pixar released its first feature film, Toy Story. It therefore links Lightning's identity to Pixar's studio history while remaining part of the fictional racing world. Lightning later changes sponsorship designs, but the number remains associated with him.
Lightning's number is often confused with The King's number 43, which belongs to the veteran racer Strip Weathers. Chick Hicks uses number 86 in the first film. Keeping those racing numbers separate helps distinguish the major Piston Cup competitors.