BRIEFLY : IRVAN CLAIMS FIRST-EVER POLE AT MICHIGAN.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

Ernie Irvan took advantage of a slightly cooler track near the end of a 46-car qualifying session for the Pepsi 400 to win his first-ever pole at Michigan Speedway on Friday.

Starting beside him Sunday - also in a Pontiac - will be Bobby Labonte.

Jeff Gordon, the current Winston Cup points leader who holds the track qualifying record of 186.611 mph, will start on the inside of Row 2 after a run of 183.341 mph.

NASCAR driver Gary Laton's condition was upgraded from serious to fair following a wreck at Michigan Speedway. Laton suffered head and neck injuries after he wrecked his car during qualifying for a Busch Grand National race Thursday.

BASKETBALL: The executive director of the NBA Players Association said he can promise owners the union will resolve the marijuana issue, but it won't stand for a hard salary cap.

``The players are strongly united in their opposition to the elimination of a soft cap,'' Billy Hunter said after a three-hour union meeting at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. ``That's not negotiable.''

Also, the players' union filed a 50-page brief with arbitrator John Feerick explaining why it believes players with guaranteed contracts should be paid during the lockout.

Brian Ellerbe, who became Michigan's interim basketball coach after Steve Fisher was fired Oct. 10, has signed a multi-year contract to coach the Wolverines through the 2003 season.

HOCKEY: Fox Sports was expected to delay announcing a decision on whether to match the Walt Disney Co.'s $600 million bid for the rights to the NHL, setting up a possible legal fight between the league and two media conglomerates.

Restricted free-agent center Rod Brind'Amour re-signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, agreeing to a three-year, $11.25 million deal just before a scheduled arbitration hearing.

SWIMMING: Jenny Thompson claimed her 20th individual national title, winning the 100-meter butterfly in the U.S. Swimming Championships at Fresno.

Lenny Krayzelburg of USC won his second race of the championships, capturing the men's 100 backstroke in 54.64. He won the 200 backstroke earlier in the week.

ALSO: While Bruce Arena, who led Virginia to five NCAA titles and then took D.C. United to the first two championships in Major League Soccer, has emerged as a top contender to become coach of the United States national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation said it still hadn't made a decision. . . . Pete Sampras breezed past upstart Vince Spadea 6-3, 6-2 in the ATP Championship to advance to today's semifinals of the $2.45 million tournament in Mason, Ohio.