IMS: Shaq cancels highly anticipated Snake Pit set due to 'scheduling complications'
Less than 48 hours before the Indianapolis 500 Snake Pit concert, one of the day's most-anticipated performers has canceled his set.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, whose stage name is DJ Diesel, was set to perform at the famed EDM concert held each year inside Turn 3 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but had to cancel his set due to "scheduling complications driven by the ongoing NBA Eastern Conference Finals," according to a written statement from IMS.
O'Neal will be replaced by producer and DJ Valentino Khan. Jauz, Subtronics, John Summit and headliner Kaskade are still set to perform.
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"We know many of our Snake Pit customers were looking forward to DJ Diesel’s set, and we appreciate their understanding in this matter," an IMS spokesperson said in a written statement Friday evening. "Sunday will be an epic day in the Snake Pit, with an electric headlining performance by Kaskade and a full roster of top EDM artists.”
The Boston Celtics held off the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals Thursday, taking the series to 3-2 and forcing Game 6, which is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in Miami. O'Neal, who retired from the league in 2011, now appears as an analyst Inside the NBA. He had originally been set to take the stage in Indianapolis early Sunday morning.
The Snake Pit concert, which starts at 8:15 a.m. and continues through the race, is the third of three concerts scheduled for race weekend. On Friday evening, Bryan Adams and Soul Asylum played the Miller Lite Carb Day concert at the speedway. On Saturday, country star Brad Paisley will headline the Legends Day concert at TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park with guests Russell Dickerson and Jackson Dean.
As for Sunday's Snake Pit concert, general gates at the speedway will open at 6 a.m., with concert gates opening at 7. More information about the show can be found at indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
Contact newsroom development director Holly Hays at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Shaquille O'Neal no longer performing in Indy 500 Snake Pit concert