Marcus Ericsson was already turning into a favorite of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock long before he brought Huski Chocolate into the series as his sponsor at Chip Ganassi Racing.

Huski Chocolate is a premier line of chocolate products, including hot chocolate. The company is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Ericsson is from Kumla, Sweden.

Now, this is a sponsorship deal that makes a lot of sense, especially to the growing INDYCAR fanbase in Sweden.

As fans sip the sweet flavor of Huski Hot Chocolate to fight off the winter chill, Ericsson is ready to turn up the heat in his second season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“I’m super excited because it’s a great opportunity for me to be on a team like Chip Ganassi Racing,” Ericsson said. “It’s one of the best teams in the motorsport world in general and in INDYCAR. It’s a team that fights for wins and podiums each weekend. It’s a big step up, and I’m super excited about it. I’m super excited to work with Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist; they are two of the best drivers in the field. With Scott’s experience, it’s going to be great for me.”

Ericsson competed in 97 Formula One races and places Dixon as one of the truly best drivers in the world.

“To be teammates with a driver like that is going to help me develop and develop as a driver,” Ericsson said. “It is something that is going to help me develop into a better driver. I’m going to learn from him, and then try to beat him as well.

“He’s a perfect teammate to have. He is a really good guy and shares stuff on race weekends.”

Rosenqvist is also from Sweden. Ericsson and Rosenqvist competed against each other in karting when they were kids before their career paths took them in different directions.

Both drivers became closer friends when they moved to Indianapolis last year.

“The new language of Chip Ganassi Racing is Swedish,” Ericsson quipped. “We’re going to be given Swedish lessons every Wednesday night.

“Seriously, there is a lot of interest in Sweden in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. I’ve felt a lot of attention and anticipation and media coverage to the season from Sweden, especially with me and Felix being teammates. There is more focus on us. The interest back home in Sweden is really, really big. There has been an increase in America as well, with people from Sweden on social media interacting with INDYCAR.

“This year, with the three of us on the sharp-end of the field, it’s going to help it even more.”

Last year, Ericsson was an INDYCAR rookie for what was then known as Arrow Schmidt Peterson Racing. He competed in 16 of the 17 races on the schedule, missing the Portland race because he was asked to serve as a reserved driver for Alfa Romeo in Formula One at the Belgian Grand Prix. He did not drive.

Ericsson finished second in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race 2 for his best finish of the season. It was one of three top-10 finishes for the driver. He expects to improve those results this season as part of the powerful Chip Ganassi Racing team.

“I have to step up at Chip Ganassi Racing,” Ericsson said. “It is putting more pressure on me as a driver, but I’ll know every weekend I have a car that has a chance to win. That will raise my game.

“The pressure will go up, but you have to handle that pressure that goes along with a ride like this. It’s the first time since 2013 that I am driving for a top team, a winning team.”

The 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins March 13-15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the city streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.