Another week, another record

Earlier in the day, Earnhardt forgets Newman at airport.

Kevin Harvick made Michigan International Speedway’s latest track record look routine.

In what is becoming an annual occurrence at MIS, Harvick pushed the track’s qualifying mark a little bit higher Friday, winning the pole for this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at 204.557 mph in Brooklyn.

Harvick’s pole-winning speed was the fastest since Bill Elliott set the record of 212.809 mph at Talladega Superspeedway in April 1987.

“This is one of those racetracks where you’re running fast, but you really can’t put it all in perspective, I guess, until you hit something,” Harvick said.

Drivers have broken 200 mph with regularity at Michigan since the track was repaved before the 2012 season. Last August, Joey Logano set the track record at 203.949.

Harvick was even faster in winning his third pole of the year and ninth of his career. Points leader Jeff Gordon was second, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third. The top three qualifiers for Sunday’s 400-mile race were all in Chevrolets.

Earnhardt forgets Newman: Ryan Newman made it to Michigan, no thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Newman thought he had arranged a ride on Earnhardt’s plane Friday morning. The problem was Earnhardt forgot about that and left Newman at the Statesville Re- gional Airport in North Carolina.

“It was just an honest mistake, I think,” Newman said. “He forgot. I don’t think it was by any means on purpose.”

Earnhardt seemed sheepish about his mistake on Twitter.

“Weekend started off on wrong foot. Left @RyanJNewman at the airport. Forgot he was riding with us. Imma pay for this one,” he wrote.

Le Mans: Patrick Dempsey, star of television’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” is hoping for a podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans — the most prestigious road race on the sports car circuit.

Dempsey, 48, gets a shot at a top-three finish when the 82nd race starts today in France. He’ll share the No. 77 Dempsey Racing-Proton Porsche 911 RSR with his business partners. They are the only all-American driver lineup in this year’s race.

“We’re very optimistic. We have a great team,” Dempsey said.

JONATHAN DANIEL / GETTY IMAGES Keelan Harvick sits in the car of father Kevin Harvick during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Friday. Kevin was tops in qualifying, setting a lap record of 204.557 mph, and will be on the pole for...