Lightning McQueen, #51 Crew Chief

When the racers turn toward the tracks and IGNTR's crew chief stand stays empty, Lighting knows something's gotta be up.

Danny's crew chief, a Camaro whose name Lightning can't remember, shrugs it off. "Maybe he got suspended for an infraction last week."

"An infraction? Gus?" Lightning snorts. "No one on that team would ever slip up like that."

"Uh, his name's Ray," says the Camaro. "And everyone slips up."

Lightning frowns. He's positive he's heard Storm call him Gus. But since he can't for the life of him remember this guy's name, he supposes he's in no position to object. "If there'd been a suspension for the 20 team, we'd have heard about it," Lightning presses. "I mean, if you've ever been yelled at by G - by Ray, you'd know he's always 100% by the b - "

"You've gotten yelled at… by someone else's crew chief?" asks the Camaro, eyes slit judgmentally.

"I mean, I guess he didn't yell," Lightning allows. "But he wasn't impressed."

Yes. Yes, Ray's forcefully told him how to avoid a suspension a few times. 51 needs you, he'd said. Don't mess this up for her.

Lightning reminds himself to stop talking. He still hasn't gotten used to life at the bottom of the pyramid. Apparently, he's yet to earn this Camaro's respect. (Which is fine, he figures. Whatever. The next few tracks on the schedule are infamously challenging, and Lightning knows them better than anyone around. Let's see what this Camaro thinks of him in three weeks.)

For now, Lightning shuts up. But when the green flag drops, Lightning's gaze flicks back to the empty stand.

Something's up.