The word "sped" is the past tense of the verb "speed," which means to move or travel quickly. In the context of the clue "risked a ticket, say," it implies that someone was driving above the speed limit, potentially risking a traffic ticket.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Went flying. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.