By alley - Jul 7, 2016, 5:59 PM ET

IMSA: Visit Florida Racing nearing chassis decision

Visit Florida Racing team owner Troy Flis hopes to have contracts in place and news to announce on which Prototype chassis it will use in 2017 soon after this weekend's IMSA race in Canada. The veteran Grand-Am Rolex Series and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entrant has been busy visiting potential manufacturer partners for IMSA's upcoming Daytona Prototype international (DPi) formula, and manufacturers of the spec 2017 World Endurance Championship P2s that will also be used in IMSA's Prototype class.

With the DPi or P2 solutions believed to be in place for almost every other current Prototype entrant, Flis remains as one of the only team owners left with a hard decision to make.

The number of DPis expected to be ready at the start of January for the Rolex 24 At Daytona is somewhat limited, although quite a few of the new WEC P2s could bolster the grid. Some DPi manufacturers are said to be aiming for a mid-2017 debut, while others are likely to appear for the first time in 2018. With DPi's most pronounced growth on tap for the second year of the formula, Flis believes IMSA will have a strong field of Prototypes once a few manufacturers get to see the initial DPis compete in 2017.

"Timing is the main thing; I don't think we'll have as much manufacturer support next year while they look to see some DPis run and how they work, but I feel confident the class will grow," he said. "Getting a great DPi field will open more opportunities for the Prototype class. I'm very excited about it, and think there are a lot of positives coming for it."