Speed started kart racing at the age of 10. He moved up to Formula series in 2001. He was a champion in "US Formula Russell". He drove in both the "US Barber Formula Dodge" and "US Star Mazda Series". Speed won the 'Red Bull Driver Search' program. In 2003 he drove for the ADR team in "British Formula Three". During that year he fell ill with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. He returned to the United States for treatment.