The hair, the facial features, the red firesuit. Hmm, could it be Dario Franchitti?

“Turbo” director David Soren has the definitive answer. The three-time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner was not the model for Guy Gagne, the five-time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race champion in DreamWorks Animation feature film that opens in theaters July 17.

“But he could be,” Soren says, “there are similarities.”

Franchitti was technical consultant on the 3D adventure film about a common garden snail who dreams about competing in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race against his idol Gagne. When a freak accident and multiple circumstances collide, Theo finds himself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Click it: Get your 'Turbo' gear || Franchitti polices racing realism || New York premiere photos

Gagne (voiced by comedian Bill Hader), Soren said, was modeled after the head of story. Franchitti, Team Penske’s Will Power and Indy car legend Mario Andretti have cameo voices in the movie. Try to pick them out during the 96-minute film (or go to the bottom of the story to learn their roles).

“I welcomed the opportunity obviously to be a part of it to some degree,” says Andretti, who noted that unlike in the animated film “Cars” he’s “not representing myself.” “Just to be part of it in a cameo I think is wonderful.

“Every time that I’m taken on the inside and shown everything that goes into a production is overwhelming. They were so kind. We went through all the different departments and spoke to so many people. They even had a Team Andretti there. With so many talented people I was wondering what my payroll was. We had fun.

“(DreamWorks Animation storyboard artists) made sure they are capturing the essence of what it’s all about. They showed me bits and pieces of the film and when Turbo is doing his lap I knew exactly where he was on the racetrack. They capture all the idiosyncrasies, which is what it’s all about. They studied it in and out to bring that certain reality to it and that’s what these new animations are all about.

“It’s wonderful that they’re featuring Indianapolis and our biggest race. It’s known around the world and it plays very well. The reach is tremendous and what it does for the exposure of our sport is golden.”

Soren, who brought the storyline to DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, is humbled by Andretti’s assessment.

“I’ve had snails on my mind for the better part of 10 years now and it feels real good to set them free at this point and unleash them upon the world,” he says. “I’m really proud of the movie and how it turned out. It’s a pure underdog story that will appeal to a lot of people.”

                                                                            ***

Now, on to the cameos. Longtime Indy car announcer Paul Page has the role of, what else?, a broadcaster. Andretti is a “yellow shirt” (safety patrol) at the Speedway.

Franchitti and Power are journalists.

“Basically, I went to a studio at DreamWorks with a microphone and a script and just acted out,” Power says. “We went through a bunch of different scenarios. One was a bus driver, one was in a driver's meeting and one was a reporter. I'm thrilled; I made the cut."