The visitors were stuck in traffic and arrived at the West London ground at 3.05pm, causing the kick-off to be delayed 40 minutes.
But they put in a fine battling performance to come from behind and earn their first away point of the season.
Adrian Patulea was the star for the visitors, scoring a fine equaliser and running the home defence ragged at times.
He pulled his side level just past the half-hour mark when he picked up a flick from Lenell John-Lewis and lashed a left-footed drive past Ben Hamer in the Brentford goal.
But the home side might have felt hard done by as it came very much against the run of play.
Nathan Elder had put Brentford ahead midway through the first period when he fired home from 14 yards after Lincoln had failed to clear a long throw and that was the least the hosts deserved.
Lincoln keeper Rob Burch produced two fine low stops to deny Marvin Williams before being substituted because of injury and Elder also headed wide from close range.
Glenn Poole sliced an effort wide and Elder again came close when he steered Adam Newton's free-kick narrowly past the post.
Lincoln's best early chance fell to Patulea who saw Alan Bennett clear a header off the line but they were barely in the game before they equalised.
Lee Frecklington shot just wide for the visitors before the break and Dany N'Guessan should have won it at the death when he raced clear only for Hamer to smother at his feet.
But was Brentford who had the upper-hand and it took a fine goal-line clearance from Shane Clarke to deny Bennett a headed goal.
Charlie MacDonald had an effort saved late on but neither team could get the crucial goal and it finished all-square.