A debate not often thought about, but one that needs to be talked about, is who would win in a race, Lightning McQueen, or Turbo?
Lightning McQueen is from the movie series “Cars,” and began as arrogant, flashy, and self centered, and later grew into the more humble character we know and love. McQueen has 7 Piston Cups and many wins, solidifying himself as one of the best racers.
Turbo has the movie named after himself. Turbo was an ordinary snail, slow, and lived in a garden with his fellow snails. He is a more down-to-earth character, gaining his speed from the fluids supercharged engine, going on to compete in the Indy 500.
What do the people think?
The love for McQueen is unmatched; his popularity gives him a boost in people’s minds.
When asked who they think would win, a student from FCHS says, “Lightning McQueen definitely would win. He’s the kind of racer that always finds a way to win, even when it’s unexpected.”
Another FCHS student has a contradicting view, “I mean, Turbo beat a whole lineup of IndyCars, so he should win, right?”
Who is faster?
The straight answer to who is faster is Turbo, no doubt. Pixarcarsfandom has McQueens’ top speed listed at 200 MPH, while during qualification for the Indy 500, Turbo hit 226 MPH. Turbo clearly has the advantage when it comes to speed.
Even further, McQueen raced cars resembling NASCAR, clearly slower than the IndyCars that Turbo races. Although in Cars 2, McQueen raced an F1 car around a street circuit, where they are undoubtedly the fastest, and he won.
If we take into consideration of the movie’s release, in 2011, F1 cars had a top speed of 216 MPH per the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, while an IndyCar topped out at 228 MPH in 2011.
Achievements
When it comes to experience, McQueen clearly has the advantage, racing for 12 years. In that span, he won 7 Piston Cups and won 93 races, per Piston Cup Fandom. He was introduced into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Turbo, on the other hand, from confirmed information, won the Indy 500, and had a long career, with unknown statistics, so we cannot confirm his career was as successful as McQueen’s.
Opponents
An important topic when deciding who wins in a race is comparing who they’ve raced in their own universes.
McQueen started his rookie year, and he quickly showed dominance, with 7 wins in the season, and the championship came down to one final race against Strip “The King Weathers, and his early rival, Chick Hicks. Both of these racers had a top speed matching McQueen’s, with 200 MPH.
Strip raced 35 years, being a consistent victor, winning 7 Piston Cups, tied with McQueen. He also has the most wins ever, with at least 200. McQueen, in his first year, quickly asserted dominance against him, ultimately forcing Strip to retire.
In Cars 2, McQueen had the opportunity to race the world’s best racers in the World Grand Prix, where his main competitor was Francesco Bernoulli, an F1 car, reaching a top speed of 220 MPH, and McQueen broke even with him, losing the first race due to mistakes with Mater, and beat him in Italy, proving he is faster.
In Cars 3, the uprising of a new generation haunts McQueen, with the main rival being Jackson Storm, a new hybrid type of car, reaching a top speed of 214 MPH. Considering he beat Francesco, you would think this is just another race for McQueen, but McQueen struggles the entire movie to even reach him. This causes him to decide to give up racing and let the next generation take over.
Turbo only has one movie and a spinoff TV show that doesn’t show much racing. Turbos’ main and only rival is Guy Gagne, IndyCar champion, and he would do anything to win the Indy 500; he even attempted to injure or kill Turbo. Turbo ends up winning the race by a literal hair, losing his powers in the process, but regaining them not long after.
Knowing this information, the fact is undeniable that McQueen has more experience and has raced more opponents, faster than him or not, and has won against the fastest one he’s raced. Turbo is by no doubt faster than anyone McQueen has raced, and even beat someone faster than himself.
Who wins head-to-head?
To answer the tricky and possibly for some, sensitive question of who would win, Lightning McQueen or Turbo, the answer is quite clear.
McQueen holds the upper hand in experience and pure talent for racing; the level of competition he has consistently defeated is undeniable.
Ultimately, what decides a race is pure speed, and that is where Turbo shines. He beat a long-term racer in Guy Gagne, clocking in at 230 MPH, and Turbo found a way to win when the chances were slim.
So, although McQueen might be the more flashy and decorative racer, and may be many people’s first choice, Turbos’ raw speed gives him the edge in a head-to-head race versus Lightning McQueen, making him the winner.
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