Doc Hudson, voiced by Paul Newman, mentors Lightning McQueen in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc is the town doctor and judge in Radiator Springs, but he once had a distinguished racing career. He was the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a three-time winner of the Piston Cup. His racing career ended after a serious crash and a period in which the racing world moved on without him.
Lightning initially treats Doc as an old-fashioned local car. As the story develops, Doc recognizes Lightning’s talent and begins helping him understand cornering, control, and the importance of supporting a team. Their relationship becomes one of the film’s central emotional arcs.
Paul Newman’s involvement was especially notable because he had a long-standing connection to auto racing and had competed professionally. Doc is based on the Hudson Hornet, a real automobile associated with early stock-car racing. The character’s racing number is 51.