Sally Carrera - Blog Posts

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Shipping Cruz with Lightning feels very weird and gross to me.

1. There is a big enough age gap between them that she remembers watching his races when she was kid. She is at most in her early-twenties and Lightning had been racing for ten years by Cars 3 and is considered “old” by a bunch of twenty-something racers in 2017. While an age gap like that isn’t wrong per se, there is that power imbalance in terms of life experience that a romance wouldn’t work. While I image Sally is the older one between her and Lightning, they don’t seem that far apart in age where one of them is +10 years older.

2. Speaking of power imbalances, Lightning was also technically her employer. Technically it’s more of Sterling, but Lightning has some authority and influence over her job so long as he’s working for Rusteze. Yeah Cruz quits at the end, but they were still working together. In that way, him helping out Cruz getting a shot at racing feels like a sort of like a “casting couch” situation.

3. I never saw where people think Lightning or Cruz had or could have romantic feelings. I got always got the impression Lightning was acting more like a father to her. Luckily that seems to be the majority of Cars fans, but somehow tvtropes begs to differ.

So yeah, I’m not a fan of daddy issues in that regard. Yet somehow my mother thought that Lightning and Cruz were a couple and wondered if Sally would get jealous. Honestly, I rather Cruz just be Lightning’s sort of daughter figure and Sally his girlfriend.

Marriage is overrated and ten years on Sally and Lightning are a healthy, functional couple. Sally has little interaction with Cruz but she seems to like her fine. She was mad at Jackson talking to Cruz and making her uncomfortable (I would too, especially if Armie Hammer was talking to me) and was very complimentary of her Dinoco paint job at the end. Sally has no issue with Lightning spending time with a younger woman because she trusts him and their relationship. Healthy relationships.

However, that doesn’t stop me from shipping Cruz/Natalie Certain and Sally/Holley. I’m more of a yuri fan than yaoi, but it’s understandable why yaoi is more prominent in this fandom.

This was a photo of the comic I took and posted on my deviantart.

I think these comics made Chick weirdly interesting. One of the comics involved Chick admitting he respects Doc as a racer, has a “win at all cost” mentality because of his father, and that he learns to not make fun of disabled children.

This comic has him randomly show and save Red unintentionally. Long story short, Sarge had a really bad camera and thought Red stole something from him. Doc is in charge of the trial, Sally tries to defend Red and butt heads with Sarge about his sucky evidence. Sally monologues to herself about Sarge’s sucky evidence, Chick randomly shows up and flirts with her. Sally leaves and follows her to the courthouse. It’s then Chick shows he’s an AV nerd and messes with Sarge’s video evidence that showed color, cleared the image, and reveal Red didn’t steal his stuff.

So yeah…

Hello! I hardly even know the blog but just stopping by to drop off some Chick and Sally interactions I thought you'd might like lol

LETS GO, THEY HAD OFFICIAL INTERACTIONS!!!!

god chick is such an asshole 😭😭 and sally continues to be the realest character ever

also i love how this addresses their dynamic where chick sorta represents the worst of the life that sally left behind 🤔 salchick is so deep and multilayered

also also, reoccurring chick detail i noticed: whenever chick makes a "witty" joke or one-liner and no one reacts, he immediately tries to awkwardly explain it

Anyways,

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

TORTURE AND SALLY AND CRUZ! WHY ARE YOU MAKING HIM WATCH!

I know I should’ve seen it coming but it still made me scared!

IT’S HELL IT’S HELL IT’S HELL IT’S HELL IT’S HELL IT’S HELL IT’S HELL!!!!!

OH THANKS FOR THE ENDING! I GUESS I’LL JUST ASSUME THE WORST OF HAPPENED TO THE THREE!

Okay...

Mater, call the spies and get a Maui hook and go save your friends,

Holley, get out the taser and shock the minions and help Mater get them out.

Finn, put eighteen holes inside of Axlerod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRn2jDfsOsQ

Another video I made. This time about Finn doing something stupid that even Mater’s pissed off.

It’s kind interesting to note how Mater rarely gets angry so I chose the one where he’d be at the most angry. Lightning has a lot of angry expression and Holley, I love her reactions. Especially after Finn gives his reason for why he’s got them killed!

My OT3:

Lightning/Sally/Cruz- Cool One/Clever One/Cute One

Jackson/Cruz/Natalie- Cool One/Cute One/Clever One

Eugene/Rapunzel/Cassandra- Cool One/Cute One/Clever One

Imagine your OT3 arguing about who is “the clever one”, who is “the cool one”, and who is “the cute one”.

I’m not crying... I just got something in my.... Oh man this freaking sad and beautiful and sad and heartbreaking and sad.

I’ll write a fic of this someday... but first.

*Starts to cry*

how do you think Lightning will react about if Sally dies suddenly ? I'm feeling a little down right now

Oh…. oh. Wow. Okay. 

Well I hope you feel better soon, anon. I don’t know if this will help or make it worse, but I hope somehow it helps you out.

Everyone thought he took Doc’s death hard. That was nothing compared to this. When they heard the news, he started screaming and swearing, completely turning into someone else the townsfolk had never seen.

He just leaves town without saying a word. He can’t take seeing it without her. She was the one who really made him appreciate it to begin with.

No one sees him for three or four days, no one knows where he went. Turns out, he drove up into the mountains and just sat in isolation while he mourned her. He couldn’t bear being around anyone.

He makes it back for the funeral, but doesn’t speak. Everyone is trying to provide what comfort they can, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. She was his life. Nothing, not even his racing career, was as significant as her.

Afterwards, he spends a lot of time at her grave. They buried her near Doc. He tries to talk to her to ease his conscience, but he can’t say anything without breaking back into into sobs.

He tries to find someone to blame for his pain, but can’t. He can’t control his thoughts and goes back and forth between being vehemently angry and unbearably anguished.

He’s torn between leaving Radiator Springs for good and staying. It all reminds him of her, and it’s painful. But at the same time he knows she’d want him to take care of it now that both she and Doc were gone.

He never goes to visit Wheel Well again. He can’t even look at it. He still supports and manages the operation, but he’ll never go back. He makes a point not to look at it if he has to drive by it. That was sacred ground for them as a couple. It’ll never be the same.

He treats the Cozy Cone motel similarly, although he still stays there. He hires on an old friend to keep it running so he doesn’t have to do it himself. Going into the office was hard to take. All the decor was still as she’d left it.

A couple weeks later, Mater finally gets him to talk. He doesn’t respond much, but it’s an improvement. Mater doesn’t push him, but he does say something that strikes a chord with Lightning. “Forgetting her won’t make it [the pain] go away.”

Lightning was given similar advice when Doc died, and he knew that he needed to honor her in a similar manner. He decided that he wasn’t going to leave town. That town was her everything, and if that’s all he had left of her besides memories, he was going to do whatever he could to support it.

Later on, he tries to focus more on racing, but it’s not quite the same. He still does well, but he finds himself pushing himself to the limits a lot more and thinking a lot less. It’s not a good strategy, and his eager spirit is just gone. He misses seeing her there in the pits waiting for him.

It takes several months for things to return to any degree of normality. The town is still much quieter, as Sally’s bubbly, optimistic personality isn’t there to supplement it anymore, but everyone at least functions again. 

Lightning eventually remembers how to enjoy himself and have fun again. He spends more time with the other members of the town and even with his racing buddies. He’s gotten to a point where he can think about her and not feel overwhelmed by her absence. There’s still a void in his soul, but it’s one he intends to keep, in memory of her.

SALLY FROM CARS SINGS!

WHY IS IT ONLY NOW DO I FIND THIS OUT!

And I just had a slight mini freak out of happiness and excited all because of my weird curiosity.

SHHIIIIIPPPPPING! AWWWWWAAAAYYYYY!

Mommy Sal and Padre McQueen with their baby.

Man I wished Cruz had called Sally Mrs. McQueen so I could know if they are MARRIED OR NOT! Or Hell Mater calling her Mrs. Sally when he passed by.

Hmm… I’m starting to get into Chick and Natalie, but I’m kind of leaning towards Cruz and Natalie now since Jackson hit Cruz and Natalie did a rather gay look upon admiring Cruz.

Mommy Sal and Padre McQueen do not approve of Jackson,  not after hitting their girl.

Here are some good Cars 3 (het…ish) pairings

Welp. Goodbye Cruzon and Critter, I found a new ship for Cruz and I finally get my Cars lesbian pairing.

Make way for Cruzalie! 

One is all about the numbers and how they’re never wrong while the other beat the odds.

Since y'all forgot:

Natalie’s GAY moment is when she repeats something the commentators say, like “quite the win” but Nat puts extra emphasis into it and leans in and stares at Cruz unblinkingly from afar and does something with her lip and it was massively gay

YES! I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPENS!

BOTH OF THEM HATE JACKSON FOR TALKING TO THEIR BABY CRUZ!

I FEEL VERY SMUG ABOUT ANYONE WHO SAID SALLY WAS GOING TO BE JEALOUS OF CRUZ! 

IT’S THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PEOPLE WE SHOULDN’T WORRY OR FEEL COMPETITIVE ABOUT OTHER FEMALES TALKING TO GUYS WHETHER THEY’RE A BOYFRIEND OR EVEN JUST A FRIEND!

DID I MENTION CRUZ IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! AND SHE LOOKS INTIMIDATED BY JACKSON! NOT MY BABY!

LIGHTNING, SALLY, GO KICK JACKSON’S ASS AND PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER!

…Well there goes my Cruzon ship. 

…Fritter/Cruz go!

Why do I keep shipping Cruz with characters who absolute dicks to her at best and at worst ones who try to murder her?

when some fuckboy tries to flirt with ur daughter

I like it.

What is with that random kid? I’m calling it, he’s played by one of Owen Wilson’s sons, probably Robert Ford since he can most likely talk.

If I’m right about the kid’s voice being Owen’s son than... Aww.... adorable! Best daddy! Then again, his little sons will also be watching their dad get hurt very, very brutally and being very sad throughout their movie.

Jackson has such a smug, but chill look on his face that I kind of like. He is just flipping chill.

Oh and the masochistic demolition derby cars and Miss Fritter are there too. Gale is staring at her bumper.

Let’s see Smokey, Louise Nash, Mack, Luigi Guido, Mater, Red and my girl Sally. Yeah that’s everyone.

Oooo... this can help with my Cars couple anthology series. To the thinking of pairings, titles, and then sending it to a113Cowgirl!

The Fic I won’t write game

Send me a ship and a fic title, and I’ll post a summary of the fic with that title I won’t write.

(Original game started by the puckurt comm mods here)

I wonder what their jobs on Homeworld are like.

This is also kind of dated since we recently met an Aquamarine and she is a little brat that Gem!Sally would not take kindly. Oh well, there’s alway Zircon.

You’re designs are wonderful by the way dear.

Also, Aquamarines and Emeralds are both Beryl gems... Oi... Chick and Sally are...

Cars gem AU! Up above is the first initial lineup, a chick/lightning fusion and a chick/lightning/king fusion! Last is a short mini comic thing about a time where a series of event made it look like chick poofed mcqueen, chick took off with mcqueens gem and was hiding out in a cave waiting for him to reform.

Agreed. Oh I love these girls they're both wonderful and adorable!

Lightning oh... Lightning you are both the greatest lady magnet and heartbreak. Don't yell at Cruz! She is pure joy!

My girls are sad!!! Save them!!!

(They’re both looking at Lightning in each shot- Lightning stop doing this to them, they don’t deserve it!!!)

(Also… Cruz is beefy and I love her???)

Can you post the page where it says Lightning's real name?

Cars Origins: Struck by Lightning

By Dave Keane

Is the source you heckin guys. I’ll post screengrabs now that I’m not sleeping.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO FLY THIS THING!

Jackson: WHERE ARE THEY?

Holley: Since I can only assume one of our shared associates I’ll just tell you Sally, Francesco, and Sterling are upstairs.

Jackson: Has it look like I give a F*** about where Sterling is!

Holley: In that case,

they are downstairs.

Jackson: Thank you very much!

Holley: Oh and Storm.

Jackson: Hmm?

Holley: Aim for his hood.

(Meanwhile)

Sterling: I just don’t understand women!

Francesco: Neither do I!

Sally: Look it’s simple, just go to her and tell her how you feel.

Sterling: You know what? You’re absolutely right! You guys are so wonderful, thank you so much.

Francesco: He’s gonna get rejected isn’t he?

Sally: Yep.

(Somewhere else)

Jackson: Finally. Finn!

Finn: What the?

Jackson: Where is McQueen?

Finn: I think he’s outside.

Jackson: Where outside?

Finn: I don’t know

Jackson: Finn.

Finn: Yeah?

Jackson: Why is there a helicopter outside?

(Outside in a Helicopter)

Lightning: What do you mean you don’t know how to fly this thing?

Cruz: I mean I don’t really know how to fly this thing. I can’t make it any simpler.

Lightning: Than how did we get up here!

Cruz: I don’t know! I just started pushing buttons!

Lightning: You know at this point, there really isn’t any reason for why I haven’t MURDERED YOU YET!

(Red beeping warning buttons start)

Lightning: WHAT DID YOU DO!?!

Cruz: RELAX! I GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL!

(They crash the helicopter into Thunder Hollow Speedway. But at the speedway...)

Sterling: But I still don’t understand. Why don’t you like me?

Miss. Fritter: You mean other than I’m not into guys fancy-pants? YOUR FRIENDS CRASHED THE HELICOPTER ONTO MY TRACK!

Sterling: It was just the one helicopter...

(Finn is now in a helicopter with Mater hanging on for dear life)

Mater: AAAAHHHHHH!

Finn: QUIT SCREAMING!

(Finn also crashes the helicopter on the track... All of them survived that day)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/C8wlWMJtnuU?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8wlWMJtnuU)

I should like this but I do!

WHY ARE YOU TWO AT A DEMOLITION DERBY?!?!

Sally: Hello?

Cruz: Hey what’s up?

Sally: I just called to check on you and Lightning. Is he there?

Cruz: Uh... he can’t come here right now.

Sally: Okay... well tell me when he can.

Cruz: Oh I can’t do that.

Sally: What do you mean you can’t?

Cruz: I mean can’t because he’s racing.

(Loud crashing noises are heard, Cruz cringes as she hopes Sally didn’t hear at all)

Sally: GO CHECK ON HIM!

Cruz: Okay you don’t have to shout at me!

(Cruz zooms to get a better view, horrified and praying that Lightning’s okay)

Cruz: He’s still racing.

(Metal is heard being smashed)

Sally: Where are you two right now?!

Cruz: We're at Derby!

Sally: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE "AT DERBY"?!

Cruz: I MEAN I'M AT DERBY!

SALLY: WHAT DERBY ARE YOU TWO IN?!

Cruz: WE'RE AT A DEMOLITION DERBY!

Sally: WHY ARE YOU TWO AT A DEMOLITION DERBY?!

Cruz: FUCK YOU!!

MMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!

IF YOU’RE A FELLOW CARS FAN PLS REBLOG THIS SO I CAN FOLLOW YOU

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Cars (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Salley Carrera/Holley Shiftwell Characters: Sally Carrera, Holley Shiftwell Additional Tags: Car Sex, not humanized Summary:

A rainy night in the desert, and two cars who can't resist each other. Yes, this is lesbian car-on-car. No, I'm not sure anyone will enjoy this.

I didn’t make that fic.

Found this on Archive of Our Own one time. I usually avoid reading this type of thing, or at least read once and never again since I have a pretty good memory of things, but i don’t know I’m weirdly intrigued.

Honestly I don’t read smut... but I found intriguing was it got me thinking about my favorite Cars girls as a femslash pairing. It’s written in a way that honestly does feel in character for both. Holley being nervous and flustered about her attraction and Sally being the more bold and confident of the two. That feels in-character for them (along with Sally being the one with the experience and initiates it and being on top). There’s also the description of the body language the two have that Sally can tell Holley’s attracted to her and giving Holley the confirmation that she likes her too. Thus when they do the deed they are giving permission and consent with Sally leading the way.

I shouldn’t have to praise that part because that’s something that SHOULD be understand by people. Consent and both sides taking initiative. Not just one party saying “WE HAVE SEX WHEN I WANT IT! YOUR OPINION OR FEELING OF IT DON’T MATTER!” Oh and the feeling that they actually do like each other and see each other as equals.

Any relationship, whether romantic, platonic, or even sexual, should have all parties feel equal to each other in the emotional sense.

Well that’s my two cents, going to back to start planning my own femslash fanfic while also thinking about the canon ships. 

Oh, and a possible Cars Hunger Games-esque Rebellion AU of Francesco/Sally.

I like shipping.

Yeah I was a fan of the Hunger Games at the time and I thought the same thing you said. The world goes to shit because the Lemons won.

I actually had that idea for a fanfiction. Lightning was sent accidentally to an alternate timeline/dimension where he died because Sarge didn’t switch the fuel. When Our Lightning goes to back to Radiator Springs to get help (he thinks he’s still in his world at this point) he finds the town seemingly abandoned. He’s ambushed by the townies and captured, taken in by them to be interrogated. As they question Lightning and interrogate him he tries to tell the townie that he is Lightning McQueen, for reals. They don’t believe him because their Lightning is dead and that they think he’s one of Axlerod’s agents in disguise to mess with them or go undercover. Mater (who in this timeline never had a bomb on him and is leader of the Rebellion) and Sally come in to cross-examine Lightning with the two looking coldly at him. Mater, starts asking questions that only he and Lightning would know while Sally’s just circling around the two. Lightning passes the questions but they don’t trust him, they won’t kill him because there might be a reason as to how or why Lightning knew the things he did so they keep him around under heavy supervision. Any attempts at escape and the boy is shot dead in his tracks.

Meanwhile in addition to the members of Radiator Springs (including Mia and Tia, Otis, and The King) the World Grand Prix racers and Finn, Holley, and Siddley (they’re one of the few British spies who aren’t working for Axlerod) are are also working for the Rebellion in their respective countries. Often traveling to the main HQ of Radiator Springs to provide updates on the latest activity and plans of action. For a few years, the Lightning in that timeline had been dead, most tourists stopped coming to Radiator Springs because of that. Lightning’s death changed Mater as he went from being happy-go-lucky goofball to serious  to the point of unfeeling and wanting nothing more than to set things right with the world. Holley had felt saddened by how the Mater she’d fallen in love with wasn’t the same. She loved Mater the idiotic, but good-hearted spy, not Mater the miserable and emotionless agent. Staying mostly in the UK division of the Rebellion with Finn, she feels afraid to look at Mater in the eye, but still makes in-person visits to Radiator Springs to pass down the latest intel along with updates on plans and rendezvous. Francesco, in the Italian division has in a way felt like this was his fault, even though it wasn’t and joined in order to make amend. Over the past couple years, he has developed feelings of love for Sally but understands that she might not feel the same way as she had lost someone she loved for years. Francesco knows that if they ever get through this underground war with the Lemons, than he’ll tell Sally.

Why are my idea so weird?

Why are my idea so weird?

My Diamonds...

My Blue, Yellow, and Pink Diamonds (yes I know she’s purple but dammit this is MY Diamond Authority)

White Diamond? Eh, pick on and I’m sure he’ll fit the bill.

Damn... a younger Paul Newman was pretty fine. Oh Armie Hammer, he’s so pretty... Owen babe, I’ve had a crush on you for 11 years ever since I was ten... you’re still so gorgeous.

DAMMIT 2017! YOU MADE ME LIKE GUYS AGAIN!

Oh hai Candice.

I remember hating you ya little tool.

You are voiced by Tara Strong so that makes you 20% cooler.

Man Lightning is a magnet for them all and my harem anime me was correct! Sally, Mater, Doc, Francesco, Holley, Cruz, Jackson, Mia and Tia, Chick, Candice! You hit the jackpot yo!

She is not my Pink Diamond though.

Just freaking adorable!

So today at work there was this little girl who was REALLY sad that sally from cars wasn’t coming out to say hello to people and she just kind of flopped everywhere so I found a sally button by the grace of god and I wrote her a note form Sally’s point of view explaining that she was sorry she’d missed her and that she’d see her at the races.

And that little girl took that pin and looked absolutely stunned and held it to her chest, then she picked up the letter and she hugged it to her chest. Her mom came over and hugged me and her dad shook my hand and I started tearing up and that little kid didn’t say a word. She was just holding a piece of paper that I wrote on and a pin that I pulled off the wall like they were gold incarnate and I’d handed her a million dollars.

firstly, that’s a little girl that likes carsland. Not a little boy who likes lightning, a girl who was just as thrilled to see lightning mcqueen as all the other boys. Secondly, that’s why I do what I do. not for Annual passholders, not for people who want to make statements, for the future generations and the fact that a girl was that excited about a car just shows that we’re doing something right. Take that with you.

Agreed. Completely. Though some of the images of Cruz and Lightning seem very... ship.

Lightning and Sally are still my Cars OTP!

Plus I don’t see Sally as the jealous type. Lightning has shown to be the jealous type with the whole getting pissy and annoyed when Sally only said Francesco looks good. Sally on her end has absolute trust in Lightning with letting him go to the World Grand Prix without any worry of him being far away and thus doing anything selfish.

Cruz I can see as having a crush on Lightning, especially since her character description says “coming to Lightning’s aid with stars in her eyes when he shows up at the Rust-eze Racing Center.”

Stars in one’s eyes is an idiom meaning “Be dazzled or enraptured, especially with romance; also, be naively idealistic or optimistic.” 

Cruz is a lifelong fan so she’ll be excited and happy to work for him but not flirt with or openly say she has a crush on him. Maybe blush when Lightning compliments her or even get a bit giggly but just that. Besides, I can mostly see Lightning seeing her as daughter figure or even a little sister figure, but either way, just a friend.

I sincerely hope with all of my being that Pixar doesn’t do that thing where Lightning spends all of his time with Cruz because she’s training him and it makes Sally feel insecure because she’s more in his league than she is - or some other excuse - and they imply that something could happen between Lightning and Cruz.

Don’t do that. Do not do that. Don’t even hint at it, get that away from me and chuck it to the bottom of the ocean. Sally is a vibrant and confident lady who trusts her bf, Lightning is not a weasel and loves Sally with all of his heart, and Cruz is a decent and respectable young lady who wouldn’t even think of doing something like that. I’m watching you, Pixar.

I have nothing to say since you summed up that preview and Lightning’s character in that scene better than I could. You read my mind and perfectly articulate it in such a way that I couldn’t. Thank you.

Cars 3 Preview Analysis

At the beginning of the clip, we see the race in session, then it focuses on Lightning. If you didn’t already notice, you could see the way he was eying the race car next to him. It’s as if he was observing the design layout of that competitor, and he must’ve been thinking about how those kind of cars were the new kinds of technology they had nowadays. Something that Lightning didn’t have, at least doesn’t have as much due to his age.

When Jackson drives up next to him, remember when he said, “Hey Champ, where did all your friends go?” He was referring to Chick Hicks and Dinoco, along with all his other competitors he used to race against in the first movie. They’re no longer there. They’ve retired. They no longer are able to race because of the new rookies and, it’s almost like they are forgotten. Lightning didn’t retire. His deep love for racing keeps from doing that, and he refuses to let his age show on him. He refuses to give up. McQueen is determimed to prove himself that he can still race. However, you could still see his reaction when Storm states that. Lightning is basically all alone, and in reality, he probably has no true place in that race.

After that, Jackson drove away and literally passed the five cars that were in front of Lightning in less than two seconds. It seemed as if it took him no effort at all. That’s how easy it is for Jackson to take the league. Not to mention, apparently he’s cheating, using a special type of gas that boosts his speed and overall stamina.

After a while, a car attempts to overcome McQueen, making the two of them the same distance apart. They both take a couple of turns boosting speeds, passing over the other temporarily before the other does the same back. Lightning, at this point, was NOT letting another car pass him. So he managed to succeed, seeing an opening in the middle of another set of races and took the chance, squeezing into the two of them. Looking closely you can see how close he was to hitting them. The edges of both sides of his front bumper were inches apart from hitting the yellow car on our side (our left, his right). Who knows how close he was to hitting the other car.

Over time, it shows Lightning slowly but succeedingly overcoming the rest of the cars ahead of him, trying his best to get to first place. Then, eventually, he gets to second place, with Jackson Storm in the lead as first.

Before anything else happens, the two of them head to their respective pitstops, in need of tires. Just like the announcer stated, this final stop will be the big ‘decider’ for who has victory and who is defeated.

Lightning, knowing that if he could hurry up and pass Storm, wanted Guido to hurry up with replacing his tires so he could take first place. Luckily, his team finished, so without a second’s hesitation, he hit his gas and zoomed out of there, just in time at the last moment before the other cars managed to get ahead of him. It was surprising how fast he went at that specific moment, though. A bit slower and he would’ve lost his position.

Everything came crashing down, however, because in a couple of seconds Jackson just sped up next to him. It was emphasizing how much faster he was than Lightning.

Let’s take another look at Lightning’s perspective here… He’s panting. A lot. He’s obviously running out of breath because he’s pushing himself to his max speed. He doesn’t want any cars to take his place, so he’s using all his will power to not falter and slip up. He NEEDS to win this race. He can’t just lose. He’s still as good as he was in the first movie’s races, right? This is what he’s probably thinking from his point of view.

Noticing that Lightning was panting heavily, Jackson asked him if he was alright, seeming concerned for him. He states to Lightning not to worry, and that he had his good run. Then, Jackson had the nerve to finish off with as he sped away, taking first place, “Enjoy your retirement!”

When he said that, it hit Lightning. It was like a smack to the face. Reality flushing over him without warning. Now focusing on Jackson’s words to him, not to mention that being combined with Lightning seeing that Jackson now took first place and is dramatically faster than him, he’s having conflict with himself. His expression falls as he finally understands the 'truth’ about his role in life now. This causes Lightning to slow down, allowing the cars behind him to pass him.

The terrible thoughts of “I’m going to lose the race, I’m not as fast as them anymore, I’m going to retire, I will no longer be able to race anymore,” just makes it worse. The announcer says how Lightning is fading away, meaning he’s losing his places, which actually makes sense in a mentality kind of way. People perceiving Lightning as a rookie is fading away. Lightning’s youth is fading away. His PRESENCE his fading away. No one notices him anymore. He’s not the star he once was. These new, high-tech advanced  cars are. They’re the new rookies, and the new soon-to-be stars that will make Lightning completely forgotten.

Thinking all of this, Lightning finally regains his composure, repeatingly growling to himself, “No, no. No, no, no, no…!” He’s saying 'no’ to all of the things explained above. He’s saying no to the fact that there’s new cars better than him. He’s saying no to him losing first place and potentially losing this race. This’ll be the first time Lightning will TRULY lose a race. Racing is what he loves to do. It’s his passion. And to give it up all away? To lose everything? And not having a say in it? He has no choice. No option.

Therefore, he forces himself to speed up, determined once more to take back the league. Then he faces his problem. He can’t go any further nor faster than he already is. Over the years, his speed decreased, and his age is preventing him from reaching the others. You can see how Lightning’s body just overall shakes terribly, slightly at first then more intensely. It’s showing he’s pushing himself WAY too hard. He’s trying to reach a speed he can no longer do. He’s done for. Lightning McQueen is no longer the fast racecar he was once known as.

His engine is probably overheating from it all. From all the pressure and, emotionally, the hurt feelings and thoughts that’s crossing through him, making it all worse.

And since he’s too concentrated with trying to speed up to reach the others, he’s not paying attention to his actual driving. He’s going too fast for his own good, and therefore that’s what caused his crash. He must’ve shifted slightly while making that long, cursive turn, and in that little shift, his back tire lost all control, making the rest of him get thrown off track. Lightning quickly tries to make his way into control, but fails to regain balance.

Thus, without catching his balance, gravity and the intense force of his speed threw him at the wall, and the force of that hit threw him airborne.

Don’t even get me started on Sally. Her expression is enough to break our hearts. Our shattered hearts from Lightning himself only shatter into nothing once we see Sally’s immediate reaction to him crashing and flipping into the air. Just imagine; watching your boyfriend doing something he loves and for him to crash? Seeing him airborne in the air, now extremely prone to massive and most likely permanent injuries that, God Forbid, could take him away from you? That’s how Sally must be feeling.

Lastly, we have Mater. His best friend, now crashing terribly. Although his reaction wasn’t focused on as strongly as it was with Sally’s (you can see his face a bit as it zooms in on Sally), we can all coclude how he’s feeling right now. The world must’ve stopped for him too, something unbelievable happening in front of his eyes.

And there’s my analysis for the Cars 3 Preview. Thank you for your time!