Who directed Pixar's first Cars film?

John Lasseter directed Pixar's first Cars film.

Lasseter co-directed Toy Story and directed A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, and Cars. For Cars, he shared co-directing credit with Joe Ranft, a major Pixar story artist and writer who died in a car accident before the film's release.

The movie grew from Lasseter's interest in road travel and the history of U.S. Route 66. Its production combined Pixar's computer animation with research into racing, automotive design, and roadside communities. Lasseter also served as a producer on later Pixar projects.

Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, and Pete Docter are all important Pixar directors, but they directed other films. Bird directed The Incredibles and Ratatouille, Stanton directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E, and Docter directed Monsters, Inc. and Up.