NASCAR: Harvick dominates Michigan qualifying

Kevin Harvick set a blistering record pace as he dominated NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

Stewart-Haas Chevrolet driver Harvick was quickest in all three segments, breaking the series' track record in the opening moments and never looking under threat. He finally secured pole with a lap of 35.198 seconds/204.557mph.

SHR's supplier Hendrick filled the top three as its own cars took second and third with Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Aric Almirola was the top Ford representative for Richard Petty Motorsports in fourth. Toyota only got one car into the pole shootout, Brian Vickers taking 10th for Michael Waltrip Racing.

Brad Keselowski had been Harvick's nearest rival in the first two sections of qualifying, but fell to sixth when it counted.

Juan Pablo Montoya qualified 28th on his NASCAR return with Penske. He had only been a tenth off teammate Joey Logano in the first part of qualifying, but they were on opposite sides of the segment two cut-off, and Logano was able to go on to qualify ninth.

Ryan Newman's weekend got off to an unusual start when Earnhardt forgot that he was giving the Richard Childress driver a lift to Michigan on his private plane, leaving Newman temporarily stranded.

Newman eventually made it to the track and jumped out of the first part of qualiying with a last-gasp lap, though 24th ultimately proved to be his limit.