Auto Racing
Harvick sets the track record for a historic pole position
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Kevin Harvick set a track record to win the pole at Kansas Speedway.
Harvick posted his record time of 194.658 mph Friday in the second round of NASCAR’s knockout qualifying format. Harvick then hit 194.252 in the third round to win his second pole of the season.
Joey Logano will join Harvick on the front row Saturday for the first night race in Kansas history.
Saavedra wins his first pole after Hunter-Reay’s crash
INDIANAPOLIS – A slick surface was all it took for Sebastian Saavedra to win his first IndyCar Series pole. It also was just enough to slip Ryan Hunter-Reay out of the top starting spot for Saturday’s Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
Saavedra, who turned a lap at 1 minute, 23.8822 seconds, will lead the field to the green flag for the first IndyCar road course race at Indianapolis.
Cycling
Orica wins team time trial on Giro d’Italia’s opening day
BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Canadian Svein Tuft powered Orica Green-Edge to victory in the team time trial in Belfast in the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday, taking the overall leader’s pink jersey on his 37th birthday.
Orica, which was the overwhelming stage favorite, clocked a time of 24 minutes, 42 seconds along the 13.5-mile course, which was lined by more than 140,000 fans.
NBA
NBA names the L.A. Clippers’ interim CEO to assist Rivers
NEW YORK – The NBA chose Dick Parsons, a former Citigroup chairman and former Time Warner chairman and chief executive officer, as interim CEO of the Clippers on Friday. He will oversee the management of the franchise and represent it at owners meetings while the league tries to force Sterling to sell after his lifetime ban for making racist remarks.
With disgraced owner Donald Sterling barred from anything to do with the league or team, and team President Andy Roeser on an indefinite leave of absence, the league and Clippers worked together to find someone to lead the organization along with head coach Doc Rivers.
NFL
Browns’ excitement greys a potential suspension
BEREA, Ohio – A day of celebration dissolved into confusion for the Browns.
Hours after quarterback Johnny Manziel’s arrival had Cleveland’s football pulse racing faster than it had in years, a report that star wide receiver Josh Gordon may be facing an indefinite suspension shattered the city’s collective joy.
As the second round of the NFL draft was set to open Friday, ESPN reported that Gordon, who led the NFL in yards receiving last season, had failed another drug test for marijuana and could be banned for a year.
49ers receive hometown Johnson from the Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Receiver Stevie Johnson is heading to his hometown San Francisco 49ers after being the odd man out in Buffalo.
The Bills traded Johnson to the 49ers on Friday in a deal made before the start of the second round of the NFL draft. In exchange, Buffalo acquired an undisclosed pick next year. ESPN reported it was a conditional fourth-round selection.
Soccer
Belgium and the Americans will scrimmage in Brazil
CHICAGO – The United States’ soccer team will scrimmage Belgium on June 12 in a closed-door game in Sao Paulo leading to the World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said Friday the scrimmage will not count as an international match.
The U.S. plans to announce its 30-man preliminary roster Monday, two days before they start training in Stanford, California.
Associated Press
