# I Am Speed > I Am Speed is a 2019 image-macro meme pairing Lightning McQueen's smirk from Pixar's Cars with captions boasting about performing mundane activities at ridiculous speeds. "I Am Speed" is an image macro meme featuring Lightning McQueen from Pixar's *Cars* franchise, where the character repeats the phrase as a confidence-building mantra before races. The meme took off on Reddit's r/dankmemes in March 2019, with users pairing the screencap of McQueen's smirk with captions about doing something extremely fast in everyday life[1]. The format works as a punchline for any situation where someone moves at ridiculous speed, usually for a dumb reason. ## Origin The phrase originates from the *Cars* franchise, released on May 26th, 2006, where Lightning McQueen uses "I am speed" as a self-motivating mantra during races[3]. The image macro format was popularized by Reddit user jeIbest, who posted the first known meme version to r/dankmemes on March 18th, 2019[3]. The post used the McQueen screencap alongside a text blackout joke about rushing to pee in the bathroom. It blew up fast, pulling in over 26,800 upvotes (98% upvoted) and 140 comments within 48 hours[3]. - **Platform:** Pixar's *Cars* (source quote), Reddit r/dankmemes (meme format) - **Creator:** jeIbest (original meme post on Reddit) - **Date:** 2019 (meme format); 2006 (source film) ## Overview The meme uses a specific screencap from the 2006 Pixar film *Cars* showing Lightning McQueen driving around a race track with a confident smirk[3]. In the movie, McQueen psyches himself up by repeating "I am speed" as a mantra before competing. The image macro format places a setup caption describing a situation that requires doing something very fast, followed by the McQueen screencap with "I am speed" as the punchline. Most versions follow a text blackout or two-panel structure. The humor comes from applying McQueen's intense racing mindset to trivial everyday situations like clearing browser history, eating food before getting caught, or sprinting to the bathroom[3][1]. ## How It Spread The format caught on immediately. The day after jeIbest's post, Redditor SeriousSoldier uploaded a version about downloading games on Steam to r/dankmemes[3]. Around the same time, Redditor Yetty_McGreedy posted a text blackout variant about eating a hamster in class, also on r/dankmemes[3]. The meme's appeal was its simplicity. Any situation where you needed to move fast could work as a setup. Users applied it to clearing search history before parents check your phone[1], speedrunning homework, and racing to grab food. The format spread across Reddit and into broader meme communities through 2019 and into 2020. ## How to Use The format typically follows this structure: 1. Write a setup describing a situation where you need to act fast (clearing browser history, running to the fridge during a commercial break, finishing an exam early) 2. Place the Lightning McQueen screencap below with "I am speed" as the caption 3. The joke lands when the urgency of McQueen's racing mantra contrasts with whatever mundane thing you're rushing to do ## Cultural Impact I Am Speed represents a type of meme that achieves longevity through simplicity and repeated utility rather than novelty. Unlike trend-based memes that spike in popularity and fade, this meme has maintained steady usage across years and platforms. The meme's success demonstrates how movie/TV moments can be extracted and repurposed by meme culture in ways creators never anticipated. While Pixar created the character and scene, the meme itself grew into a distinct cultural artifact separate from the original film. The meme has influenced how internet users express haste or speed in casual conversation, becoming a recognized shorthand for claiming excessive velocity. It shows how simple phrases from popular media can enter into the permanent vocabulary of meme culture. ## Fun Facts - The original post by jeIbest hit 98% upvote ratio, which is unusually high for r/dankmemes[3]. - The meme went viral almost exactly 13 years after *Cars* was first released in theaters[3]. - Urban Dictionary's top definition for "I Am Speed" references clearing browser history when your mom asks to see your phone[1]. - The format peaked during a period when r/dankmemes was one of the fastest-growing meme subreddits on the platform. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is I Am Speed? "I Am Speed" is an image macro meme using a screencap of Lightning McQueen from Pixar's *Cars*, paired with captions about doing something at ridiculous speed[3]. ### Where did I Am Speed come from? The phrase comes from the 2006 Pixar film *Cars*, where Lightning McQueen says it as a racing mantra. The meme format was created by Reddit user jeIbest on r/dankmemes in March 2019[3]. ### What does I Am Speed mean? It's used as a punchline for situations where someone needs to act extremely fast, usually for a trivial or funny reason like clearing browser history or grabbing food[3][1]. ### How do you use I Am Speed? Write a caption describing a situation requiring speed, then place the McQueen screencap with "I am speed" as the punchline. The humor comes from the contrast between racing intensity and mundane situations[3]. ### Is I Am Speed still popular? The meme peaked in 2019 on Reddit. While the image macro format is less common now, the catchphrase "I am speed" still gets used as a standalone reference in comment sections and captions[3]. ### Who created the I Am Speed meme? Reddit user jeIbest posted the first viral version to r/dankmemes on March 18th, 2019[3]. ### What movie is I Am Speed from? The quote comes from Pixar's *Cars* (2006), where the main character Lightning McQueen repeats it as a confidence mantra before races[3]. ### Why did the I Am Speed meme get so popular? The format is dead simple and endlessly adaptable. Any scenario involving doing something fast works as a setup, which made it easy for anyone to create their own version[3]. ## References 1. [List of Internet phenomena]() 2. [I Am Speed - Urban Dictionary]() 3. [I Am Speed - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/i-am-speed Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library