Finding Mario: Nazareth’s Favorite Son Has Fast Scene As a Ford in Disney/Pixar’s ‘Cars.’
By Kathy Lauer-Williams, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.
Jun. 8–In Disney/Pixar’s much-buzzed-about new animated film “Cars,” keep a sharp eye out for a light blue 1967 Ford Fairlane during the Piston Cup championship race.
On screen for a quick cameo is a car named Mario Andretti, voiced by the Nazareth racing legend himself. The car pays homage to Andretti’s historic win at NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in 1967.
When he signed on for the movie, Andretti had no idea what kind of car he would be playing. He was pleased to learn his alter-ego was a re-creation of his Daytona-winning Ford.
“That was a famous car,” he said.
“Cars,” opening Friday, tells the life-affirming tale of rookie stock car Lightning McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson.
On his way to the big race, McQueen takes an unexpected detour to the sleepy town of Radiator Springs, where he meets old Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) and Sally the Porsche (Bonnie Hunt), and learns a lesson about what really matters in life.
Also starring in the film is Mack, a 1985 Mack Trucks SuperLiner voiced by John Ratzenberger, who takes McQueen where he needs to go.
Andretti joins other racing luminaries Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip and Michael Schumacher as guest voices. NASCAR legend Petty voices the King, a 1970 Plymouth Superbird that is a Piston Cup racing legend.
“They fit in a couple of open-wheel racers,” Andretti said, referring to himself and Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One world champion.
Although Andretti was a true triple threat in the racing world, the only driver to have won the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and a Formula One world title, he is best known for driving the open-wheel race cars of Indy and Formula One.
Andretti said it was “quite a compliment” when “Cars” director John Lasseter, a personal friend, asked him to do a cameo in his revved-up film.
Computer-animation whiz Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, produced the 2003 mega-hit “Finding Nemo” and 2004′s “The Incredibles.” He also directed “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life.”
Andretti and Lasseter met through a shared love of wine-making. Both have California wineries — Andretti’s is in Napa Valley, Lasseter’s in Sonoma Valley. “We would get together and exchange bottles of wine,” Andretti said.
He flew to Pixar’s California studio over a weekend to record his part. He can’t recall his one line exactly but said it was something about it being a “nice day” for a race.
During the session, Andretti said, Lasseter took many close-up photographs of Andretti, focusing on his eyes. “He tries to capture the eyes on the windshields of the car,” Andretti said. “It gives the car its personality.”
Andretti said he is very familiar with Lasseter’s work. “My grandkids watch ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Toy Story’ almost continuously,” he explained. “I think they’ve memorized every word of dialogue.”
“Cars” is not Andretti’s first role playing himself. He has had cameos in several television series, including “Home Improvement,”"The Pretender” and “It Takes a Thief.” He has also appeared in numerous racing documentaries.
Andretti didn’t attend the “Cars” premiere on Memorial Day weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., because he was in Indianapolis rooting for grandson Marco Andretti and son Michael Andretti, who finished second and third in the Indy 500.
Another family racing star, Andretti’s nephew John Andretti, used the premiere tickets instead, taking his 6-year-old daughter, Emily. Andretti thinks John enjoyed the movie as much as Emily because of all the insider racing references. “Everything has a meaning,” he said. “To me that’s the fascination of John Lasseter’s work.”
Andretti plans to see “Cars” this weekend. “I can’t wait,” he said.
MORE INSIDE
Auto allusions fuel “Cars.”
The “Cars” stars:
voices behind the wheel.
GO GUIDE
When he agreed to be a voice for “Cars,” Andretti had no idea what kind of animated car he would be playing. He was pleased to learn his alter-ego was a re-creation of his famous Daytona-winning Ford Fairlane.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.
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