Lightning McQueen

McQueen wants Dinoco and is eager to leave Rust-eze. After tying the Piston Cup with The King and Chick Hicks, he heads to Los Angeles by trailer and gets stuck in Radiator Springs, where he repaves the road and makes friends. In the final race he pushes The King across the line and loses the trophy. He earns everyone's respect and chooses to settle in Radiator Springs.

After winning his fourth Piston Cup in honor of his mentor Doc, McQueen takes Mater to the World Grand Prix. In Tokyo, his friend turns spy by accident, McQueen loses patience and snaps at him. Later, in London, he apologizes, and they make up. McQueen wins the Porto Corsa race.

McQueen, a seven-time champion, is overtaken by Jackson Storm. He suffers a bad crash in Los Angeles. He trains with Cruz Ramirez, struggles with modern methods and ends up learning from Smokey, Doc's mentor. At the Florida 500, he has Cruz race in his place. She wins, and McQueen shares the title with her.

In the short, Mater spends the day pranking the neighbors, McQueen included. Then he teases him with the Ghostlight story, and Sheriff says the legend is real.

In the series, McQueen goes with Mater to his sister's wedding. On the way, he faces a haunted hotel, a circus, which unsettles him because of his fear of clowns, and the Thundercone arena. He learns Mater's family has money.

Owen Wilson voices McQueen. Per Wikipedia, the first film's working title was Route 66 in 2001, and McQueen's racing number was originally 57, a nod to 1957.