Cars 2(17)
The town’s winding roads had been converted into a racecourse. The billboards that lined the quaint streets and hairpin turns proudly proclaimed the hometown favorite to be Francesco Bernoulli. His face was everywhere.
Brent Mustangburger and Darrell Cartrip were on hand to broadcast the color and excitement. “Welcome, everyone, to the beautiful town of Porto Corsa!” Brent said into his microphone. “The big news here continues to be Allinol. Sir Miles Axlerod spoke to the media earlier today to answer questions about its safety.”
Brent cut to a video of Axlerod, who seemed very distressed. “An independent panel of scientists has determined that Allinol is completely safe. Okay? Safe!” he emphatically told the reporters.
“So the race will go on,” Darrell Cartrip said. “But the question everyone is asking is: Will the real Lightning McQueen show up today?”
Darrell highlighted a graphic image of the race standings, showing Francesco at the top with ten points. “Well, he’d better,” Darrell said. “Talk about a hometown advantage. Francesco Bernoulli grew up racing this course!”
The announcer barely had time to introduce Francesco before the crowd began wildly chanting Francesco’s name.
“Bellissima!” Francesco said, loving the adoring crowd. “Thank you for your support, and thanks to Lightning McQueen for his big mistake!”
The track announcer continued. “In the second position: Numero Novantacinque, Number Ninety-Five, Lightning McQueen.”
The crowd cheered, but Lightning didn’t seem to notice. His crew was watching him on the pit monitor.
Luigi became anxious. “Is everything okay?”
“If you’re worried about your fuel, man, don’t be,” Fillmore said into the radio. “It’s perfectly safe.”
“No, guys. I just wish Mater were here,” Lightning answered as he rolled into the starting grid.
The day of the big race was also the day of the meeting of the Lemonheads, the leaders of the Lemon families, in Porto Corsa. Outside the town’s elegant casino, a group of rough-looking Hugos were impatiently waiting for the Lemonheads to arrive.
Ivan, the Eastern European tow truck, was telling his Hugo buddy Alexander how ugly Gremlins were, when a very pretty little sports car pulled up.
“My grandfather has broken down,” Holley said to Ivan and Alexander. “If one of you could help, I’d be so grateful.” She was disguised as an Italian model, and they both fell for it.
Ivan revved his engine. “Sounds like you need some ‘roadside assistance’?”
Holley nodded, and after a brief challenge from Alexander Hugo, Ivan happily followed Holley down the street.
Mater peeked around the corner and saw them coming. Suddenly, the whole plan made him nervous.
“I don’t know about this,” he said to Finn, who was sitting casually in an outdoor restaurant. “What if I screw things up?”
Finn smiled. “Impossible,” he radioed to Mater. “Just apply the same level of dedication you’ve been using to play the idiot tow truck and you’ll be fine.”
Mater was stunned. “Wait, did you say ‘idiot’? Is that how you see me?”
Finn radioed back, “Of course—that’s how everyone sees you. Isn’t that the idea? I tell you, that’s the genius of it!” he exclaimed. “No one realizes they’re being fooled because they’re too busy laughing at the fool. It’s brilliant!”
Suddenly, Holley turned the corned and zapped Ivan the tow truck into unconsciousness with her electrified stun gun. She looked at Mater.
“Why aren’t you in disguise?” she asked him. “Come on! There’s no time.”
Mater quickly deployed Holley’s cloaking image to turn himself into Ivan’s double and rolled toward the casino. Victor, the Lemonhead of the Hugo family, was just arriving.
“Ivan!” Victor called out. “Why do you disrespect me so by making me wait here?”
Mater quickly attached his hook to Victor’s polished fender and rolled the distinguished Hugo Lemon through the casino entrance.
“He’s in,” Finn radioed to Holley.
As Mater moved through the elegant, high-ceilinged casino, he was overwhelmed by the palatial gaming room. “Wow,” he said. “This place looks like it’s made of gold!”
The Hugos on either side of Mater gave him funny looks. Their friend Ivan had seen this place before.
“That’s because it is!” Holley said to Mater over his radio. “Be careful what you say.”
“Why’s that?” Mater spoke into his headset. He kept forgetting that everyone around him was listening, too!