origin of phrase 'pole position'

the origin of the word pole position is from horse racing...now a days we have chequered flag waved by a person but in olden times the chequered flag was hoisted on an pole which and was positioned at the begning of the grid....hence the person starting closest to the chequered flag or the start finish line was called to be on the pole...or in proper english he is actually near the pole....hence the phrase pole position....