Auto Racing
Hamlin wins the Sprint Cup pole with a record lap
CONCORD, N.C. – Denny Hamlin broke the track record Thursday with a lap of 195.624 mph to capture the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hamlin, who never has won a Sprint Cup race at CMS, was one of eight drivers to top the previous record of 193.708 set last October by Greg Biffle.
It is Hamlin’s 14th career pole.
Four Toyotas will start in the top five. Hamlin will start alongside Kurt Busch on the front row, followed by Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer.
Kasey Kahne will start sixth, Biffle seventh, Kyle Busch eighth, Jamie McMurray ninth, and Ryan Newman rounds out the top 10.
IndyCar wants to drive fast, like Arie Luyenydyk fast
INDIANAPOLIS – IndyCar officials want to bring record-breaking days back to the Indianapolis 500.
On Thursday, after a meeting with a competition advisory board, Hulman & Co. chief executive officer Mark Miles and soon-to-be head of competition Derrick Walker said they are debating how to help drivers top the fastest speeds ever seen on the 2.5-mile oval – but within the safety confines needed in today’s racing.
The goal is simple: Break Arie Luyenydyk’s track record for fastest official lap at 237.498 mph and fastest four-lap qualifying average of 236.986 set in 1996.
Basketball
With Coach K at the helm, Team USA thinks roster
With Mike Krzyzewski back as coach, the U.S. can turn its attention to players who could suit up for him over the next three years.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said the Americans expect about 24 young players in a July minicamp in Las Vegas that will finish with an intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Americans’ next competition is the 2014 World Cup of Basketball in Spain. Colangelo said some of last year’s Olympic gold medalists already have expressed an interest in playing, and that the ’14 roster likely will be a mixture of them and some players who will take part in July.
Krzyzewski said Thursday he has talked to some players, though not about their plans, and there will be “good momentum now” to fill their roster pool.
Cycling
Nibali wins Stage 18 and extends his Giro lead
POLSA, Italy – Vincenzo Nibali won the individual mountain time trial in the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday to extend his overall lead.
The Italian finished in 44 minutes, 29 seconds along the 12.8-mile uphill route from Mori to Polsa to win his first stage victory in this year’s race.
Nibali extended his lead to 4:02 over Cadel Evans and remains on course to win his country’s biggest cycling race for the first time. There are three stages remaining.
NBA
James is unanimous All-NBA; Bryant’s 11th ties a record
NEW YORK – LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team, and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection.
James received all 119 votes for the first team from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Joining the league’s MVP and Bryant on the first team Thursday were Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, San Antonio center Tim Duncan and Clippers guard Chris Paul.
Bryant tied Utah Hall of Famer Karl Malone with his 11th first-team nod.
NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony led the second team, and he was joined by guards Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker, center Marc Gasol and forward Blake Griffin.
The third team was Houston’s James Harden, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Lakers center Dwight Howard and forwards Paul George of Indiana and David Lee of Golden State.
Associated Press
