MVN: Most Valuable Network

The show must go on. That appears to be the current mode of IRL commercial division leader Terry Angstadt after he and the league were unable to nail down a proper 2009 return to Surfer's Paradise, Australia.

With the loss of the highly popular race on the Gold Coast, the IndyCar Series finds itself preparing for an 18-race schedule in 2009 that stretches across North America and Japan. But in comments to the media, Angstadt said that Surfer's exit, while disappointing, grants the league "flexibility" in adding a 19th event for the 2010 IndyCar Series campaign:

"We're happy with '09 [which includes the IRL debut of former Champ Car events at Long Beach and Toronto], but what it does do give us flexibility for 2010. A Cleveland, a Portland - some of these venues that have real historical significance on the Champ Car calendar - are very interested in holding a race."

So does this re-ignite the embers for multiple venues in their quest to join the IndyCar Series?

Well, for one thing, I don't think that Angstadt's mention of Cleveland and Portland is just a matter of throwing tracks out there for making a statement to the press. Cleveland is promoted by Mike Lanigan, one-third of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing ownership, while Portland represents one of the league's two target areas for future expansion -- the Pacific Northwest and New England.

Speaking of New England, it probably wouldn't hurt to re-establish talks with New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- although considering the bad blood that came from track owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. after the IRL snubbed the Magic Mile on a 2009 date, this process may be more trouble than the league wants to deal with!