'Speed Racer' zooms down the long road of race car movies

Andy and Larry Wachowski have followed up their successful "Matrix" trilogy with "Speed Racer," a colorful, cotton-candy family film opening Friday. Based on the late-1960s Japanese anime series, the film stars Emile Hirsch of "Into the Wild" as Speed, a young racer who wants to win the Crucible, the annual cross-country auto race that had killed his older brother (Scott Porter).

"Speed Racer" is the latest variation in a long tradition of car race movies. So start your engines and put on your seat belts for this look at full-throttle flicks of the past and the not-so-distant present.

"Cars" (2006)

The directors: John Lasseter and Joe Ranft

The stars: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy and Bonnie Hunt

The race: Stock car

The plot: The Pixar/Disney animated hit revolves around a brilliant but arrogant rookie race car named Lightning McQueen. While traveling to the next race down Interstate 40 in California, McQueen becomes separated from his transportation truck and gets lost on Route 66. Eventually he ends up at a forgotten town called Radiator Springs, where he gains perspective on his life and career.

The results: The box-office hit, which was critically acclaimed and nominated for an Academy Award, has a lot of heart while capturing the fun and excitement of stock car races.

Trivia: The movie is dedicated to Ranft who died in a car crash in 2005. "Cars" is also the legendary Newman's last film. He announced his retirement last year at the age of 82.

"Days of Thunder" (1990)

The director: Tony Scott

The stars: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid and Cary Elwes.

The race: NASCAR

The plot: Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a talented rookie racer trying to win on the NASCAR circuit. Duvall plays his mentor and mechanic. Kidman is a young brain surgeon who falls for Trickle. The film was loosely based on the life of NASCAR's Tim Richmond and crew chief Harry Hyde.

The results: Directed by Scott and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, "Days of Thunder" is certainly loud and glossy. Dramatically, "Days of Thunder" is a wipeout. And critics took umbrage over the fact that Kidman was all of 22 when she was playing the role of a brain surgeon!

Trivia: Former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson plays the president of NASCAR

"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)

The director: Adam McKay

The stars: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole

The race: NASCAR