Lightning McQueen

Lightning McQueen, typically referred to by his surname only, is an anthropomorphic racecar and the main protagonist in the 2006 animated Pixar film "Cars". He was named after Pixar animator Glenn McQueen who died from skin cancer in 2002. He is voiced by actor Owen Wilson.

"Cars" movie

In the beginning of the film, Lightning McQueen, a racing rookie, is a great racing car. He hopes to be the first rookie to win the Piston Cup race and gain a lucrative endorsement deal from Dinoco Oil, but finishes in a three-way tie with perennial runner-up Chick Hicks and veteran Strip "The King" Weathers after losing his huge lead because of two blown tires. En route to California for a tie-breaker race, he becomes detoured off U.S. Route 66 in New Mexico because of The Delinquent Road Hazards and finds himself in Radiator Springs, a nearly abandoned town which saw its livelihood largely destroyed by the construction of Interstate 40 decades ago. McQueen accidentally destroys the town's main road, and the townsfolk require him to repair it.

It is established that while en route to California, and when he went with Sally to see the Wheel Well Hotel, that not only did McQueen not have any friends at the beginning of the movie, but that he also secretly found his life very unhappy (When Sally told McQueen the reason for leaving her lifestyle as an attorney, being that she wasn't happy, McQueen began to agree, but immediately put on a surprised emotion to hide it).

Over the course of his stay in the town, he comes to form friendships with the residents of the town. He falls in love with a former city-dwelling attorney named Sally, and gains a deep respect and reverence for the town's judge and doctor, an ex-race car named Doc Hudson. These experiences lead McQueen to understand the importance of friendship and love, and that fame is not the most important thing in life.

When he eventually gets to the Piston Cup tie-breaker - with his friends from Radiator Springs as his pit crew - McQueen manages to make it to the finish line before Chick Hicks and The King. But after seeing The King spin out of control and crash onto the pit (Chick deliberately took The King out), and remembering how a crash had ended Doc's career, McQueen stops before the finish line. Instead, he allows Chick to cross and win the cup and decides to help The King cross the finish line in order to retire with dignity. After the King reminds him how he just gave up the Piston Cup, Lightning reminds him of something Doc said, "It's just an empty cup." McQueen gains a large measure of respect from the public for this act. Although Dinoco offers him the endorsement after Chick is jeered by the crowd and denied the opportunity for his reckless cheating, McQueen decides to stay with his original sponsor, Rust-eze, and moves his racing operations to Radiator Springs. Thanks to Lightning's endorsement, Radiator Springs sees a huge boost in tourism, and the town is saved.

"Cars" video game

In the "Cars" video game, written by Pixar and considered a continuation to the story started in the movie, Lightning McQueen finds himself at the start of the next Piston Cup season. With the help of the citizens of Radiator Springs, McQueen readies to start his quest for the Piston Cup, taking lessons in powersliding from Doc, boosting from Filmore, and racing backwards from Mater. With his skills, Lightning once again makes a championship run in the Piston Cup, much to the irritation of Chick Hicks, who hates him. Fearing his title is in jeopardy, Chick enlists the assistance of The Delinquent Road Hazards—DJ, Boost, Wingo and Snot Rod —the same rowdy cars who detoured McQueen to Radiator Springs, to hijack McQueen's racing gear from Mack on Interstate 40. Lightning is able to retrieve the goods and bring the delinquents to justice before winning the next race, which sends Chick into a frenzy. Lightning challenges Chick to a Grand Prix in Radiator Springs, followed by one more Piston Cup race in L.A.. Lightning wins these events, taking the Piston Cup in his sophomore season.

At the end, Lightning, Mater, and Sally decide to take a celebratory trip across the country. When asked if he brought his trophy, Lightning notes he did not, but left it in a good place, at Doc Hudson's clinic next to the legend's own three Piston Cups.

Though Lightning McQueen is still sponsored by Rust-eze, players are able to unlock McQueen with a Dinoco paint job while playing as him in Story Mode, Arcade Mode, and VS. Mode.

References

* [http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0009186/bio Lightning McQueen] at the Internet Movie Database

External links

* [http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/cars/main.html "Cars" webpage on Lightning McQueen]
* [http://yachts.monacoeye.com/pages/20060722.html Lightning McQueen] Photo of "real life" car on tour in Monaco