By Curt Cavin

curt.cavin@indystar.com

The race is on in IndyCar even though the season doesn't begin for another three weeks.

But this dash for supremacy is rooted in hair. The styling crown is vacant now that perennial king Dario Franchitti has retired.

Several new locks have been on display in preseason photo shoots, and some of the old cuts remain fashionable. Remember, racing is a sport of presentation, and sponsoring companies, like the people they sell to, are big on appearance.

At least five drivers have been designated contenders for the honorary title by their peers.

• Helio Castroneves, whose Brazilian barber apparently hasn't changed in a decade, which happens to be the last time the driver's hair actually moved.

• Sebastian Saavedra, who remains fond of his Rufio look (Dante Basco's young pirate character in the 1991 movie "Hook.") Amazingly, his hair comes out of the helmet this way, too.

• Simon Pagenaud in the classic French style, often accented by a masculine European scarf. It's been described as a rough, military look, although Pagenaud is something of a softie.

• Josef Newgarden now sports more blonde and waves than a Malibu beach. He's surely the choice of the younger generation.

• Marco Andretti, the surprising contender, although not everyone is impressed.

"Marco looks 40," Graham Rahal said. "What is that all about?"

Rahal's hair is longer on top than it is on the sides, and he doesn't mind being omitted from the final five because "I don't really have a hairstyle." He leans toward Pagenaud.

No one sides with reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan, who shaves his head. His look wasn't that good to start with.

James Hinchcliffe is deserving of IndyCar's best facial hair, which has led him to join Newgarden in a two-man run at the title.

"We're running on the platform of his head hair and my facial hair, and we're going to try to take this thing," he said. "Josef's hair has grown out over the winter, Marco hasn't had a trim in a while, Saavedra's always in the running.

"We certainly have a full-on battle going on."

Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409.