EXHIBIT 99.1




                                  NEWS RELEASE


                                       Company Contacts:
                                       Investors:                 Frank Hopkins
                                       Media and Public Affairs:  Susan Spratlen
                                                                  (972) 444-9001


                  Pioneer Announces Retirement of Board Member

Dallas,  Texas,  May 4, 2006 -- Pioneer  Natural  Resources  Company  (NYSE:PXD)
announced  that Jerry P. Jones has retired from its board of  directors,  having
reached the Company's  mandatory  retirement  age for board  members.  Mr. Jones
joined the board of Pioneer's  predecessor,  Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company,
in May 1991 and continued his service on the board of Pioneer upon its formation
in  1997.  During  his  tenure,  Pioneer  has  grown  from a West  Texas-focused
independent  to a more  diversified  company with  operations  across the United
States and in Canada and Africa.

"Pioneer  has been very  fortunate to have Jerry serve on our board for the last
15 years," stated Scott  Sheffield,  Pioneer's  Chairman and CEO. "He has been a
highly  effective  director,  and we will miss his  strong  leadership  and wise
counsel.  We extend our gratitude and best wishes to Jerry and his wife, Billye,
in his retirement."

Pioneer is a large  independent oil and gas exploration and production  company,
headquartered  in  Dallas,  with  operations  in the United  States,  Canada and
Africa. For more information, visit Pioneer's website at www.pxd.com.