McQueen smiled, the sun glinting on his fresh paint. Ramone drew back, smiling at his work. "There you go man, now you look great!" he said, watching McQueen drive out further, sporting his new paint job to Sally.

Lightning glanced down at his hood, noting the immense detail from the shine. He swerved to the side quickly, tilting up a bit at Sally as his lightning bolt flashed brightly against the sun. "Kachow! I'm back in the games baby!" he said, a sly smirk forming on his face.

"Wow, Stickers, looking sharp," Sally started, giving him her familiar, complementing smile.

"Ya look great buddy! Everyone sure did fix ya up!" Mater added in as he drove up.

"It's amazing what a few days and some doctors can do for you." A voice spoke up behind from behind Mater.

Mater turned, grinning at Finn, who headed up behind him. "Finn, you're lookin' a lot better!" he stated enthusiastically, and Finn chuckled a little.

"I'm not all the way better Mater, but I'm getting there. I just thought I'd come by to see McQueen win this race," Finn replied, and Holley drove up beside the agent, expressing her statements of luck to Lightning.

All of them were gathered outside behind the pit crew rooms, getting ready for the race. Fillmore came up behind Lightning, who of which turned to look at the van. "Your fuel is all ready man."

"Thanks Fillmore," Lightning replied, heading forward a bit to glance at the TV. It showed the live broadcast, and soon the announcers were going to say the race was about to start. He turned around to face the members of his pit crew, offering a smile. "Thanks, guys, for the help."

"No problem, Lightnin'!" Mater exclaimed with a huge toothy grin. "Be careful out there, and we'll be sure ta tell ya what to do," he reminded.

"I'm sure I won't forget buddy," McQueen laughed, and watched as Sally rolled up to him.

"You'll do great out there Stickers," she stated confidently.

"Thanks Sal," Lightning replied with a warm smile.

"Hey! McQueen!" a voice called, and Lightning turned to see Francesco coming closer from the other end of the pits. "Good luck out there, you are going to need it!" Francesco started, rounding Lightning before starting to drive away, showing his 'Ciao McQueen' bumper sticker. "Francesco cannot wait to see your face when he beats you!" he added, driving off as quickly as he had come, not leaving Lightning any time to retaliate.

As the formula car left, McQueen rolled his eyes."Yeah, we'll see, Francesco," Lightning murmured to himself in amusement, watching as the formula car went up onto his section on the track. He turned to take a last look at everyone. "I'll see you after the race!" he called to them as he turned around, driving toward the racetrack. His pit crew members bid him goodbye, and Mater immediately retrieved his headset.

The cheering of the crowd only erupted further as McQueen made his way onto the scene, and he smiled wide at all the fans, happy to feel at home.The expansive streets of London had been cleared once again for the race. One lap, just like the first race. There was the dirt portion, the straightaway portion, and the heavy turn-laden portion. That was it, just one time. Lightning pulled up to his spot, in second to last. Francesco was behind him, revving his engine in competition with the red car.

Lightning closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "Speed. I. Am. Speed."

The energy radiating off the crowds of cars filled him with motivation, and he opened his eyes again, his smile only growing. His sight flicked up to the signals, his gaze settled firmly onto the red light. "Good luck, Francesco! You're gonna need it!" Lightning said at the last minute, and the light flashed yellow, then green.

For a split second, everything was in slow motion, virtually silent. Then all of the race cars gunned their engines, smoke trailing behind their tires at the incredible speed. Lightning's eyes narrowed and a grin rose up on his face as he sped forward, the tail-end of another car in his vision. He could see past the car in front of him, where all of the other cars in front of him were lining up neatly as the road narrowed and their speeds rose. His gaze flicked backwards as he could hear the familiar sound of Francesco's engine, the formula car getting closer and closer.

Francesco smirked as he neared him, the sounds of their engines drowning out all other noises. The wind was ferocious against their frames, rippling past them at high speeds as they sped across the narrowed track. "Hey Francesco! How are you holding up back there?" Lightning called out, hoping his voice would break through the thundering engines.

"I should be asking you the same thing, McQueen!" Francesco answered, gunning his engine further and suddenly slipping by the red racer as the road widened.

Though, his lead would be hindered by the nearing dirt portion of the track. Lightning grinned as he neared the dirt, his fond memories of Doc meeting his mind once more. He narrowed his gaze and performed the famous trick once the dirt was beneath him, slamming his wheels right as he neared the left hand turn.

Francesco attempted to do the same, but his open fenders left this impossible as his wheels bent in a little too far. At this, the Italian racer declined in speed, watching as Lightning slid across the curved dirt track. As the track took changes in direction, Lightning changed his body's rhythm in accordance to it. There were long moments of intense suspension, every car battling to stay in their positions. Relief and happiness flooded through Lightning as the dirt underneath him transitioned into asphalt, his tires absorbing the cool surface.

His speed increased exponentially, and Lightning could hear Mater calling praises to him over the headset. Francesco slipped in place-markers until he was just about last, which was when his tires hit the road once again. Slamming the gas, Francesco felt his speed rise faster and faster, his labeling of last place changing quickly. The streets of London grew thin once again, and Francesco's eyes narrowed as he pressed himself further, almost up to McQueen again. "Watch out Lightnin'! Francesco's closin' in!" Mater warned his friend.

Lightning glanced to the side, not being able to see Francesco , but hearing the familiar sound of his engine. "Got it, thanks Mater!" Lightning called over the headset, pressing his gas further.

"Ciao, McQueen!" Francesco called, gunning his engine hard as he drew up a little bit past Lightning, his engine only roaring louder.

"You're gonna eat those words!" Lightning called with his own smirk, feeling a playful, competitive sensation in himself. Francesco gave the red race car a look before taking a further lead, edging in back in front of Lightning and keeping himself there. The final yards of the race were nearing, and victory was so close he could taste it.

Francesco smiled wider and wider as he grew closer and closer to the finish line. Lightning pushed himself out until he was bumper to bumper with Francesco. He could feel the air all around him, how fast he was going, and Francesco's presence beside him. It felt like a dream coming true. Bumper to bumper with his rival, seconds from the end. He glanced every few seconds at the formula car, and memories relayed in his head, both good and bad. And these memories gave him the urge to win even more. Francesco glanced to McQueen, and somehow, increased his speed every so slightly more.

Lightning already knew it. He could tell, as any racer could, whether he was going to win or lose in these final seconds. But he wasn't unhappy. He looked to Francesco, who was very focused on what he was doing, his gaze straight ahead and his expression concentrated. And in that second, the two crossed the finish line, still bumper to bumper. "Unbelievable! A bumper to bumper finish!" The commentators were calling, all looking to their headsets and cameras to see who the real winner was. But Lightning already knew.

"And Francesco has taken the win! Earning first place is Francesco Bernoulli!" The announcers exclaimed, and the crowds screamed in excitement, their tires slamming onto the ground and bodies shaking from side to side as they all embraced the victory.

Lightning smiled, even laughed, as he came to saw Francesco's reaction. "Ah, buenĂ­simo! Look at that!" Francesco breathed happily, smiling wide up at the crowds that were cheering for him. The two race cars were still driving at their high speed, but began coming to a gradual stop. As they slowed, Francesco turned to McQueen, his rear end wiggling in excitement and his winning smirk growing. "Haha! McQueen! You are the one who will be eating those words!" He stated, and Lightning rolled his eyes a little, still having his competitive smile.

"Yeah, alright Francesco, I guess you got me there." He replied, and he and Francesco turned to watch the other racers earn their places in the race.

Once the other racers retrieved their respective numbers, they all returned to their pit crews. Lightning glanced at Francesco, who was busy staying on the track for a bit longer and focusing on the crowds. "Don't get TOO confident, Francesco," Lightning said, driving in front of the other car to grab his attention.

The Italian racer looked at Lightning with, of course, a confident smile. "We'll see about that, McQueen! I'll bring back what I have today next time we race," he stated, and the red race car rolled his eyes.

"I'll beat you next time, you'd better watch out!" he said with a chuckle, and the two exchanged equal expressions of agreement. "See you around," McQueen said, beginning to turn toward his pit crew.

Mater's gaze pricked as Lightning neared and he rushed over, practically jumping out of his fenders. "Wow Lightnin' you were awesome!" He congratulated, rounding his friend and driving on his left now. "Second place ain't bad!" He continued, prompting Lightning to smile back at him.

Finn glanced at Holley from where the two were in the back of the pits. "Well, that was quite the break from our regular work, don't you think?" He laughed, and Holley laughed a little as well. "To think our break was supposed to be the whole week."

"Well, that's how things work in our line of agency," Finn continued, seeming to be reminiscing a bit. "Quite the exciting week if I do say so myself, you never feel more alive than when you're almost dead."

"I'm just glad it's all over," Holley replied, glancing to Mater, who was still following Lightning around happily.

It was silent between both cars as they watched Lightning meet up with the other members of his pit crew. Sally drove up to him, congratulating on how great he was during the race and how proud she was of him. Mater agreed with everything the porsche said, making sure to not leave his best friend's side.

Finn glanced over to the crowds who were beginning to quiet down from all of the excitement. He then looked to Holley, who seemed to be concentrated on another part of the scene herself."I want to thank you and Mater for saving my life."

Holley smiled at him and laughed. "Oh Finn, it's fine, we've saved each other's lives before, it's nothing new." She chuckled, and Finn laughed a little as well. "Well," Holley continued, driving forward a little, "I'd better go reign in Mater before he runs McQueen over." With that, the magenta car slipped out of the pits.

Finn chuckled, watching as she headed over to the tow truck. The blue agent took in a deep breath, feeling finally at ease. It looked like everything turned out alright in the end. Revving his engine, he followed after Holley and the others to congratulate McQueen.