Champion Driver Helio Castroneves to Throw First Pitch at Dodger Stadium

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2007 "Dancing with the Stars" champion Helio Castroneves will throw a ceremonial first pitch before tonight's Los Angeles Dodgers-Detroit Tigers interleague game at Dodger Stadium.

Castroneves is in Southern California to race in Sunday's Long Beach Grand Prix.

A separate first pitch will be thrown by Minions from the film "Despicable Me" to promote Friday's opening of the "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. All fans will receive a Minion paper fan and a coupon to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Broadway, film and television actress and rhythm and blues singer Antonique Smith will sing the national anthem.

Former Dodger outfielder Kenny Landreaux (left field pavilion plaza) and former Dodger pitcher Tim Leary (right field pavilion plaza) will sign autographs from 5:10-7:30 p.m.

The Veteran of the Game will be U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Dougherty of New York City, who was commissioned in 1996 upon his graduation from the Air Force Academy.

Dougherty has flown more than 1,200 combat airlift missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now operations officer with the Air National Guard's 115th Airlift Squadron and will be leaving on deployment to the Middle East this month.

Dougherty 's accolades include a Combat Action Medal and a Meritorious Service Medal.

All auto and left field, left pavilion and club level gates will open at 5:10 p.m. and the remaining gates at 5:40 p.m. The first pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

A limited number of tickets remained as of Tuesday night, a team official said.

—City News Service