At the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, it's all about the fans and their drivers.

Autograph signings like the ones Saturday in the “INDYCAR Fan Village” are a chance to span the distance between the two.

Fans lined up for a few seconds-- and maybe even a selfie—with racing legend Mario Andretti.

Eric Thomason had a unique item for signing.

"Well I just met Mario Andretti for the second time, I met him about ten years ago at the Indy 500,” said Thomason. “And I had an open-wheel race car autographed."

In fact, Thomason never comes to a race without an assortment of models to fit the driver.

"You just never know-- that is what is so wonderful about these events-- you just never know who you are going to run into," said the Atlanta resident.

It's one in a long list of "items" racers have signed.

"I just signed some kid’s iPad that was pretty cool," said Indy Lights driver Scott Anderson.

Indy Lights driver Ethan Ringel said he once signed someone’s back.

“Not today-- It's happened before though—Europe," he said with a wry smile.

New Port Richey's R.C. Enerson was not only gracious-- but he was game for anything--and kindly signed Virginia Johnson’s inside forearm.

And she has contended she may never wash the autographed forearm again.

What's the strangest thing Mario Andretti has ever signed?

“You don't want to know- you don't want to know," Andretti said.

One of the people waiting in line patiently for a just a few seconds with Andretti was 9-year-old Anthony George.

But he wasn’t waiting to get an autograph. He was waiting in was in line to give him one. Andretti described the photo.

"It's a photo we took last year at our Hospitality [area] with my son Michael and myself. Now, can you imagine how wonderful the fans are?” said Andretti. “This is very touching-- one of the beautiful things in life. It made my day."

Andretti came from behind the table on the raised platform to pose for pictures with the wheelchair-bound boy.

"I liked it and so we had to make a picture for him,” said George, “to really congratulate him for me being his friend."