POSITION TITLE: Communications Intern
DEPARTMENT: IMS Communications Team
REPORTS TO: Senior Communications Manager
POSITION LOCATION: Indianapolis
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
WORKER CATEGORY: Intern
DURATION:January 2025 – September 2025
COMPANY SUMMARY:
Penske Entertainment is a leading provider of world-class sports and entertainment. The organization consists of three prominent entities:
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility and annually hosts the world’s most prestigious auto race: the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
- INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America's premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone.
- IMS Productionsis a multifaceted broadcast and multimedia division that helps bring INDYCAR and IMS events to life for global audiences.
POSITION SUMMARY:
To support the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Communications team. This will include working on announcements and PR events, engaging with sports media professionals from around the world and interacting with a variety of motorsport sanctioning bodies. The Communications Intern is a paid internship program. This position is on site at IMS during major race weekends, interacting with media and assisting with event operations. Outside of race weekends, the Communications Intern will help in the office with various communications-based projects. By applying for this role, you acknowledge that you will be required to work weekends, including some holidays (such as Memorial Day). The Communications Intern is a part of the College Program and is eligible for all relevant programming and experiences.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
- Write press releases, media advisories and feature stories for media, IMS.com and INDYCAR.com
- Assist on statistics and other updates for Indy 500 Media Guide
- Support media center operations
- Collect and report media clips on a regular basis
- Help execute media events and announcements
- Become well versed in representing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NTT INDYCAR SERIES brands
- Develop and maintain knowledge of the IMS brand and various athletes
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate is/has:
- Background in public relations, communications or related field
- Enrolled or recently graduated from a four-year college/university
- Passionate about sports, motorsports and/or sports communications and PR
- High integrity and confidentiality
- Results-oriented and creative
- Strong interpersonal, communication, analytical, written and verbal skills
- Innovative thinker and self-starter with perseverance to lead teams to success
- Local, regional and national media knowledge
- Passion for media relations and storytelling
Bilingual candidates are encouraged.
CONDUCT:
- Maintains high level of energy during entire duration of workday
- Must be able to work exceptionally well with others in a close team environment
- Positive, can-do attitude
- Embodies the brand values during every workday
- Must be polite, courteous, and treat all consumers respectfully regardless of the situation
- Must comply with local, state, and federal law
- Must be able to stand and remain mobile for extended periods of time
INTERNSHIP PERKS
- Paid internships
- Shadowing, mentoring, and training opportunities with successful marketing motorsport professionals
- Selected IMS gear
- Hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment
- Be part of racing history working at the Racing Capital of the World
WORK HOURS:
This position requires physical presence in office during regular business hours. Additionally, this position requires working on some weekends and evening hours based upon our business needs. Flexibility and adaptability are key skills needed for this role. The candidate must be able to work weekends and unusual hours and must have a flexible schedule.
Required dates are listed below.
2025 Season
Month of May:
- May 8 – 10: Sonsio Grand Prix Race Weekend
- May 13 – 17 & 20: Practice Days
- May 16 - 18: Qualifying Days
- May 23 - 25: Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge weekend
Brickyard Weekend:
IMSA Battle on the Bricks:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
- Physical demands consist primarily of sitting, standing, and walking
- Must be able to see and hear in the normal range with or without correction, and communicate verbally and in written form with great facility and must be able to be understood
- Must have the stamina to work long hours and must be willing to work an irregular schedule, which may include weekends or evenings
- Occasional outdoor work requires physical strength and stamina to endure extreme heat, cold, rain, and other adverse conditions
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Work is performed in both an office environment and outdoors, and in proximity to other workers
- Staff will be exposed to those conditions normally encountered in a business office environment
- Staff are faced with frequent interruptions and must meet with others on a regular basis
- The noise level in the work environment can be loud, due to professional racing events
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Penske Entertainment provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities and/or events.
