Gainbridge and tournament officials at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican announced Oct. 29 that Andretti Global NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson will attend the LPGA Tour event and participate in various tournament week festivities Nov. 11-17 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
Herta and 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Ericsson will walk inside the ropes as guest caddies during the Wednesday Pro-Am with WNBA star and Gainbridge ambassador Caitlin Clark and tournament host and golf legend Annika Sorenstam. Wednesday’s Pro-Am is open to the public, with tickets on sale Wednesday-Sunday at www.TheAnnika.com.
“It's not every day that you get to be inside the ropes, and I can’t wait to witness the LPGA Tour players’ skills and strategies up close on the course,” Herta said. “Gainbridge has played such a significant role in my INDYCAR career, and I’m proud to be a part of a brand that has a strong commitment to racing and women's sports.”
Said Ericsson: “As a fellow Swede, I grew up watching Annika Sorenstam play, and she has been an inspiration to me all my life. Colton and I get a lot of unique opportunities as INDYCAR drivers, and representing the Group 1001 family in Tampa Bay next month is going to be an experience to remember.”
Herta and Ericsson also will participate in autograph sessions for fans during Thursday’s opening round (9-10 a.m. ET) and photo opportunities. Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda and Ericsson’s No. 28 Delaware Life Honda will both be showcased at the main entrance throughout tournament week.
“Having Colton and Marcus join Annika and Caitlin is an opportunity for Gainbridge to showcase the variety in our sports sponsorship portfolio,” said Mike Nichols, Group 1001 chief of sponsorship strategy and activation. “The Tampa/St. Pete market is the perfect spot to do this as it hosts the start of the INDYCAR season and our premier LPGA Tour event.
“I know racing fans will enjoy watching Colton and Marcus caddie, and we’re thankful to Andretti Global for bringing the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda and No. 28 Delaware Life Honda on site for golf fans.”
Herta and Ericsson will enter their seventh seasons of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in 2025. Herta, a second-generation driver, is a nine-time INDYCAR SERIES race winner, while Ericsson is a four-time INDYCAR SERIES race winner. Both have won the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the site of the 2025 season opener Sunday, March 2.
Aligning with some of the biggest names in sports, Gainbridge is a sponsor of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican and the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, known as the World Cup of Women’s Tennis. Both events coincide with Parity Week by Gainbridge. In November, the 21 Parity Week grant recipients will host events that support girls and women through sports and education. To learn more about Parity Week, visit https://paritynow.co/parityweek.
Hosted by World Golf and LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, The ANNIKA will feature a field of 120 of the world’s best female professional golfers competing for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest purses on the LPGA Tour. World No. 1 and two-time champion Nelly Korda, defending champion and world No. 2 Lilia Vu, former world No. 1s Lydia Ko and Ruoning Yin and three-time 2024 winner Hannah Green headline a stacked field of early commitments for The ANNIKA.
For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, including tickets, corporate support. and volunteer opportunities, visit www.TheAnnika.com and social media: @TheAnnikaLPGA on X, @TheAnnikaLPGA on Instagram, and The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Facebook.