Absolutely, the IN-08 and IN-09 can be made safe if (i) Bloomington isn’t in either one and (ii) heavily GOP Indianapolis suburban counties are added to tbe districts. Neither one of those conditions would be present if Republicans tried to draw an 8-1 map. Plus, an 8-1 map would not allow the IN-06 to be shored up (which should be done, since Pence will probably not run for reelection in 2012 in order to seek higher office).
IN-06 was also the seat of Watergate baby Phil Sharp, who held the seat until he retired in 1994. He was so entrenched that not even the pro-GOP gerrymander in 1982 could get rid of him. In fact, Pence ran against Sharp at least twice and couldn’t dislodge him.