The Della Penna Foundation invited a group of 34 high school girls from Indianapolis to learn more about careers in the motorsports industry during a three-day program during the Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend.

Over the three-day itinerary, the participants visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, motorsport engineering giant Dallara, FastTimes Karting and the PRI headquarters in Speedway, Indiana, to learn about various careers in motorsports and hear directly from individuals who have experience working in racing.

The girls were exposed to a wide range of careers as they imagined and planned their futures, including a brunch hosted by PRI and Bell Helmet that featured presentations from experienced industry professionals Nicole Clark, Kai Robertson, Lyn St. James, Marilyn Mangin, Whitney Fung, AJ Carney, Cindy Sisson, Terri Talbert-Hatch, Lindsey Hennig, Nina Rey, Lauren Gaudion, TaiJaune Robinson, Meghan Ryder and many more.

You can read more about the Della Penna Foundation brunch at PRI HQ here.

Founded by Michelle Della Penna, daughter of the late race car driver and Indy car team owner John Della Penna, the Della Penna Foundation provides girls aged five to 18 with the knowledge, skills and mentorship to fuel a bright future in motorsports. At an age when girls drop out of STEM and sports, the foundation opens doors for them in the $7-billion motorsports industry.

"We are delighted by Bell Helmets' and PRI's support of the Della Penna INSPIRE 25 program, allowing us to make an impact on the lives of these young women," Della Penna said. "The funds raised from the silent auction of Bell racer-signed mini helmets at the PRI open house will be used for other hands-on events, and the brunch was an inspiring educational and networking experience. We are also grateful to Lisa Boggs and Firestone for their generous contribution to offset the costs of the INSPIRE program."

"We are thrilled to support the Della Penna Foundation alongside PRI, to show young women the many and varied opportunities in our industry. Della Penna Foundation is the only one that gives high school girls hands-on experience in the world of motorsports," said Lindsey Hennig, sales and marketing manager for Racing Force Group, the parent company of Bell Helmets.

"We're proud to partner with Bell Racing Helmets in hosting the Della Penna Foundation Inspire Program," said Michael Good, president of PRI. "Supporting opportunities that empower young women in motorsports aligns perfectly with PRI's mission to support an inclusive industry."

In 2025, the foundation is also offering karting scholarships and summer fellowships. To learn more, donate or sponsor, visit dellapennafoundation.org.