Brent Musburger replaced by Lindsay Czarniak

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).