Hiestand: ABC unveils host of Indianapolis 500 coverage

• Lindsay Czarniak to fill TV role that has been held by Al Michaels%2C Jim McKay and Chris Schenkel
• Czarniak says it was %27a surprise to me%27 to get the assignment
• Czarniak joined ESPN in 2011 from local sports anchor job with NBC affiliate in Washington%2C D.C.

As ABC next month airs the Indianapolis 500 for the 49th consecutive time, its coverage will include something never seen: A woman as the on-air host.

ESPN/ABC will formally announce Wednesday that SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak will take on that role for the May 26 race, replacing Brent Musburger, who has been the host since 2005.

"It was a surprise to me," Czarniak tells USA TODAY Sports. "It's something I'd dreamed about getting the opportunity to do."

Czarniak will be in a role that has featured some big TV sports stars, including Al Michaels (1999), Jim McKay (1986-87) and Chris Schenkel (1971).

Back in the 20th century, a woman hosting the self-styled Greatest Spectacle in Racing would have been an even bigger deal. Now, says Czarniak, "We've moved past all that. It's a huge honor, but not because I'm the first woman. Everywhere I've been, I've taken over a spot for a man."

Her experience includes working in local TV in Jacksonville, Fla., Miami and Washington, D.C., before joining ESPN in 2011. Her motor sports coverage includes being a host and pit reporter on TNT's coverage of Sprint Cup races.

In working with a crew that will include returning play-by-play announcer Marty Reid and analysts Eddie Cheever and Scott Goodyear, Czarniak will be doing her first event coverage for ESPN/ABC.

And that's a pretty splashy entrance, although the Indy 500 is a brand name that isn't exactly a huge TV draw anymore. In 2010, the race drew its all-time lowest rating -- averaging 3.6% of U.S. households -- although it has since rebounded slightly. In 2011, the race averaged 4% of households and last year averaged 4.3%. By contrast, this year's NASCAR Daytona 500 on Fox averaged 9.9%.

Since joining ESPN, Czarniak has had various assignments before settling in to a regular role, with John Anderson, on the marquee 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter.

Asked to assess Czarniak's on-air appeal, ESPN senior coordinating producer Michael Shiffman is concise: "What's been terrific about Lindsay is she's been fun on the air, and it's been infectious fun."

Czarniak, married to MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin, figures her iconic assignment involves perspective of the past: "A lot of this will come down to storytelling. There's so much history behind this race."