James "Speed" Racer, known as Gō Mifune in Japanese media, is an 18-year-old race car driver instantly recognizable by his signature black pompadour. He wears a blue shirt featuring an orange "G" emblem, a red neckerchief, white pants, red socks, and yellow gloves. His racing gear includes a white open-face helmet marked with a red "M," symbolizing the family enterprise Mifune Motors (later Racer Motors in American versions). Speed's life centers on his family. He is the middle son of car engineer Pops (Daisuke Mifune) and Mom Racer (Aya Mifune), positioned between older brother Rex (later revealed as Racer X) and younger brother Spritle. His passion for racing initially clashes with Pops' disapproval, though Pops ultimately supports Speed by building advanced vehicles like the Mach 5. Rex's departure after a heated conflict with Pops over a racing incident leaves a deep mark on Speed, who idolizes his brother while remaining oblivious to Rex's secret identity as the masked Racer X for years. Speed's core drive is becoming the world's greatest racer, fueled by competition and personal integrity. He consistently chooses helping others over winning, actively confronting unethical racers, criminals, and corrupt organizations during races. This moral stance even leads him to sacrifice entire races when faced with greater emergencies like espionage or terrorism. His relationship with girlfriend Trixie (Michi Shimura) further defines him; she provides tactical helicopter support during races and shares his adventures, sometimes showing jealousy when Speed interacts with other women. Technologically, Speed shares a near-symbiotic bond with his vehicles, especially the Mach 5. He perceives the car as a living extension of himself, intuitively grasping its mechanics and capabilities. This connection allows him to operate the car's multifunctional systems – enabling underwater driving, deploying defensive shields, and executing jumps – seamlessly amidst high-stakes competition. His driving style merges instinctive reflexes with deep technical knowledge, letting him navigate extreme conditions and outmaneuver opponents who use sabotage or cheating tactics. Across adaptations, Speed uncovers pervasive corporate corruption within racing leagues. This discovery leads him to reject lucrative contracts from entities like Royalton Industries to safeguard his family's independence. His defiance pits him against fixed races and industrial espionage, often forcing alliances with Racer X to expose criminal schemes. His character arc involves reconciling family legacies, accepting Pops' past regrets about Rex while forging his own identity as a racer who values integrity over profit. In the 2008 film adaptation, Speed's childhood trauma stemming from Rex's apparent death intensifies his resolve to clear his brother's name and protect Racer Motors. This narrative expands his role beyond racing into corporate whistleblowing, using race victories to publicly expose race-fixing conspiracies. Through all media, his unwavering commitment to justice, fierce familial loyalty, and pure passion for racing remain central to his development.